Changing patterns of migration and regional economic growth in the U.S.: a demographic perspective

During the 1970s and early 1980s, the South and West census regions accounted for over 90% of incremental national population, which was easily the highest percentage accounted for by these regions in the nation's history. This paper stresses the importance of powerful demographic forces that contributed to the regional shift, but it does not ignore important economic factors. A major theme of the paper is that because the baby boom has now largely matured out of the most mobile age classes, population and employment growth differentials that strongly favored the South and West will moderate in the future.