Primary, return and onward migration in the U.S. and Canada: is there a difference?

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Sociology
• Economics

Background:

• Migration is a key demographic process influencing population distribution.
• Understanding different migration types (primary, return, onward) is crucial for policy.
• Comparative studies between countries offer insights into generalizable migration patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To contrast primary, return, and onward migration patterns in the United States and Canada.
• To analyze the temporal trends of these migration types over census periods.
• To identify common factors explaining return and onward migration in both nations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized microdata from the U.S. Census Bureau (PUMS) and Statistics Canada (PUMF).
• Classified migration based on region of birth and residence at census start and end.
• Calculated and compared migration rates; employed a nested logit model for explanatory analysis.

Main Results:

• Both countries exhibit similar temporal patterns in migration.
• Primary, return, and onward migration patterns are broadly comparable between the U.S. and Canada.
• A nested logit model similarly explains return and onward migration in both nations.

Conclusions:

• Migration dynamics in the U.S. and Canada share significant similarities.
• The drivers of return and onward migration appear consistent across these two North American countries.
• Comparative analysis using microdata provides robust insights into international migration similarities.