https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-population-growth-20190501-story.html If you sit in traffic every day here in Southern California, you would think the opposite. Rush hour is now all day long in some places.
Good for the planet, bad for capitalism... which is analogous to purchase accounting. Population must increase or the system fails.
At least CA population still growing albeit at a slower rate. NY state population is actually declining, about to lose 2 seats in Congress as a result.
In the past half century, the poorest nations have gained the most population. (i.e. Africa, the Middle East and South America)
It not just NY. Just about every state in the Northeast has seen their population slowly declining. NY, CT, Mass and Vermont are all offering big tax incentives to college graduates to not leave the state after graduation. The last thing these states want is to have sizable population declines. Real Estate prices would fall, and the states' only solution to their massive unfunded state employee pension liabilities is to increase the population and the taxpayer base.
A millennial couple is recently married and looking to buy their first home. They have $50,000 in combined student loan debt, and both work in corporate accounting. They can pay a $2,500 per month mortgage, plus an another $9,000 per year in property taxes to live in an 80 year old, 1600 square feet home in suburban New Jersey, or they can pay a $1,400 per month mortgage plus another $2,200 per year in property taxes to live in a brand new 2,500 square foot home just outside of some city in the southeastern United States. Oh, and the job market is much hotter in the southeast vs NJ. Becomes kind of a no-brainer.