When we embarked on the second year of the Soul of the Community study, the American economy was entering a significant downturn, as you know. So one of the questions on the minds of our researchers was whether the economic decline would factor into attachment. Many of us assumed that it would play a part, and that the hardest-hit cities would see a corollary decrease in attachment.

But according to our findings, the economy didn't play a big part in folks' attachment to their communities.

We can't tell you for certain why that would be, but the research analysts I spoke to had some theories. It might be that people recognize the economy as being bad everywhere. Or they might assume that the disadvantages of moving — finding a new job, making new friends — outweigh the benefits. Or perhaps people's reactions to the economy showed up indirectly; for example, several cities saw a jump in basic services as a driver for attachment, which includes factors related to the economy, such as housing affordability and medical services.

What do you think might explain the disconnect?

Image courtesy of bitzcelt on Flickr.