Related Experiment Videos
Measuring interstate migration flows: an origin-destination network based on Internal Revenue Service records
Environment & Planning A
|November 1, 1981
Summary
Interstate migration patterns remained stable between 1969 and 1978, despite economic shifts. Federal income tax returns reveal current residence significantly influences destination choices for movers.
Area of Science:
- Demography
- Economics
- Sociology
Background:
- Understanding long-term migration trends is crucial for policy and resource allocation.
- Previous migration studies often relied on less comprehensive data sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze gross interstate migration flows over a decade (1969-1978).
- To identify the stability of migration patterns despite economic fluctuations.
- To investigate factors influencing destination selection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel dataset of Federal income tax returns, covering approximately 90% of the US population.
- Matched IRS returns across filing dates to accurately determine migration origins and destinations.
- Minimized risks of geographic miscoding inherent in other data sources.
Main Results:
- Interstate migration patterns demonstrated remarkable stability across five periods between 1969 and 1978.
- State-specific migration proportions (in- and out-migration) remained consistent over time.
- Current place of residence was found to be a significant determinant in choosing a new destination state.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the resilience of established interstate migration patterns.
- Federal income tax data offers a robust and comprehensive method for migration analysis.
- Future migration research should consider the strong influence of current residence on destination choice.