Geographic Migration
Companies face identical calculations to migrating animals.
Migration is net-positive when movement cost < starvation cost. 12.5% die migrating vs. 60% die staying put.
Evolution independently discovered migration in unrelated lineages (birds, fish, mammals, insects). This convergent evolution suggests migration solves fundamental survival problems: seasonal resource scarcity. Wildebeest walk 800 miles annually following rains (12.5% die migrating vs 60% would die staying). Arctic terns fly 44,000 miles pole-to-pole (5-10% mortality vs 100% if stayed during polar winter). Migration economics: move when cost of movement < cost of staying put.
Business Application of Geographic Migration
Companies face identical calculations to migrating animals. Expand geographically when migration cost < starvation cost (market saturation). Airbnb spent $500M to unlock $10B international revenue (20:1 ROI). The question is always: Is the cost of movement less than the cost of staying put?