REGIONAL STUDIES

A multi-stream analysis of the changing pattern of interregional migration in Great Britain, 1960-1991
Gordon IR and Molho I
Modelling inter-ward migration in Hereford and Worcester: the importance of housing growth and tenure
Boyle PJ, Flowerdew R and Shen J
"In this paper, we use the 1991 Special Migration Statistics to analyse inter-ward flows in the British county of Hereford and Worcester. New modelling techniques...based on the Poisson distribution are used in this research which partially overcome the under-dispersion problem resulting from modelling zero and very small flows.... Analysis at this scale provides the potential for more detailed generalization about migration processes such as suburbanization, counterurbanization, intra-urban mobility, rural depopulation and the relationship between housing and demographic change at the local level. Unlike migration flows over long distances, which are often employment related, these flows are primarily motivated by residential requirements and housing type and growth are identified as key variables in the interpretation of these migration patterns."
A profile of UK unemployment: regional versus demographic influences
Brown S and Sessions JG
Metropolis or region: on the development and structure of London
Mogridge M and Parr JB
"Drawing on a disparate range of sources and viewing the question from several perspectives, an attempt is made to trace the development of London over the period since 1800. An account of the physical expansion and population growth is outlined, with ¿London' defined at a number of distinct scales. Attention is first focused on London as a metropolis, and various modelling techniques are used to illustrate the nature of metropolitan expansion. Consideration is given to the possibility that the changing spatial distribution of population through migration may be likened to a well-known process in physics. This is followed by an analysis of London at the broader scale of a region, with similar modelling techniques being employed. Finally, the question is raised as to whether London can still be meaningfully viewed as a metropolitan entity or whether a regional perspective is now more appropriate." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
Area variations in the prevalence of lone parent families in England and Wales: a research note
Bradshaw N, Bradshaw J and Burrows R
Scale effects in international migration to the United States
Clark WA
This study concerns regional variability in flows of international migration to the United States. Specifically, the author focuses on "the geographic concentration of flows by examining the variation in the characteristics of the flows to the largest immigrant states. The flows are analysed by country of origin and by age, skill levels and labour force participation. The paper also examines flows at a finer scale to counties within the largest receiving state, California. Just as across states in the United States, the variations across counties within California create disproportionate effects on particular localities. The paper documents the range of regional and local variation and argues that the scale effects are likely to increase because future flows are more likely to be dominated by network flows than by employment opportunities." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
Town population change in the Republic of Ireland: the need for an urban policy review
Cawley M
"This article argues for the adoption of a co-ordinated urban planning policy in the Republic of Ireland where towns now accommodate 64% of the total population. A review of trends in town population change for the years 1986-91 suggests that the ad hoc approach to planning urban employment and service provision that exists currently is inadequate to prevent major disparities in population distribution becoming exacerbated between large and small settlements and between regions within the state. These disparities are the result in part of fundamental economic restructuring which is related to international trends but they also reflect the gradual withdrawal by the Irish Government from regional planning from the mid-1980s on. By way of introduction to the discussion of the empirical evidence, an earlier phase of Irish urban and employment planning is reviewed briefly."
Ethnic minority groups in regional and local labour markets in Britain: a review of data sources and associated issues
Green AE and Owen DW
"This paper outlines the context of, and discusses the need for, local information on the demographic patterns and labour market experience of ethnic minority groups in many parts of Britain. The specific focus is on the identification and assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of particular data sources providing spatially disaggregated information on the economic position of ethnic minority groups."
Household migration and the local public sector: evidence from Sweden, 1981-1984
Westerlund O and Wyzan ML
"In this paper, the relationship between public sector attributes and household characteristics, and Swedish household migration, 1981-4, is studied. We report results separately for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas because the per capita levels of the tax base and intergovernmental grants are theoretically important migration determinants where population is sparse, whilst the tax rate may be more important where population is dense. Because fiscal influences are likely to be stronger for short-distance migration, we apply multinomial logit to a three-way choice set: staying and migrating short and long distances. Empirical results support our fiscal hypotheses and are consistent with previous findings on household characteristics." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
Service class migration in England and Wales, 1980-81: identifying gender-specific mobility patterns
Boyle PJ and Halfacree KH
"Gendered patterns of service class migration were observed between the metropolitan counties and regional remainders within England and Wales using 1981 Census data. Observed flows were analysed in terms of the north-south migration divide and counterurbanization, and were compared to estimates derived from gravity models. More service class men than expected moved from metropolitan to non-metropolitan areas and between non-metropolitan areas. Women were less likely to move into non-metropolitan areas and were especially attracted to metropolitan destinations, notably London. These women were also more mobile within the South than service class men. It is suggested that these contrasting patterns reflect the differential geography of women's employment." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
Equilibrium and disequilibrium in migration modelling
Hunt GL
"Equilibrium and disequilibrium approaches to migration modelling are elucidated and distinguishing features are identified. Relevant econometric evidence bearing on these distinctions is reviewed. A summary of current knowledge and priorities for future research is presented." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
An assessment of the human capital content of international migrants: an application to U.S. immigration
Mcdowell JM and Singell LD
The authors present a methodology for measuring the magnitude of international migration flows that includes an earnings equation approach as an economic dimension. "Applying our methodology to U.S. immigration, we find considerable variation across source regions in the value of immigrants. Moreover, we find that simply comparing initial earnings without controlling for differences in the characteristics and migration patterns of immigrants from the various source regions can misrepresent the relative earnings potential or value of migrants." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
Macroeconomic influences on migration
Milne WJ
"The changing composition and magnitude of internal migration flows are of critical importance in determining the potential economic growth of a region. Yet, there can be little doubt that the business cycle has a significant influence on migration flows and propensities. This paper explores the effects of macroeconomic events on migration [within Canada] through an examination of the extent of the influence of the national and regional business cycle on the in-, out- and net-migration rates." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
Demographic influences on migration
Plane DA
"This paper explores the effects of demographic change on migration [within the United States] through an examination of migration rates of different age groups and cohorts over time, and the effect on total migration flows of the ageing of regional populations....[The author concludes that] the human investment framework provides a powerful analytical device for analysing migration decision-making at different stages of the life course. Labour supply pressure is advanced as a significant demographic influence on labour mobility." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
The temporal and spatial dynamics of income and population growth in Ohio, 1950-1990
Fan CC
"This paper focuses on spatial variation of growth within a state. Using Ohio as a case study, two hypotheses are extracted from the literature. First, the theories of polarization and polarization reversal suggest that in the old industrial core the leading sector role of manufacturing has diminished in old manufacturing poles, and that income growth trends differ substantially between these old poles and new centres of development. Second, the theories of suburbanization and migration reversals suggest that population growth is contingent upon level of urbanization, and that the relationship has changed drastically between the pre-1970s, 1970s, and post-1970s periods." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
Opening the frontier: recent spatial impacts in the former inner-German border zone
Jones PN and Wild T
The authors examine the 1989 removal of the frontier region (Zonenrandgebiet) along the eastern border of the former Federal Republic of Germany. "The paper examines the socio-economic impacts on the North Bavarian section of the Zonenrandgebiet, which is characterized by its dispersed industrial base and lack of higher-order urban centres. Evidence is presented of rapid upturns in population growth and economic activity, together with a large inflow of commuters from the former East Germany and Czechoslovakia, following frontier opening. Traffic, environmental pressures and living costs have also increased. Both positive and negative impacts are strongest in districts contiguous with the former frontier. Long-term development prospects hinge on its newly-gained centrality within Germany. Substantial local benefits are anticipated...,but they are unlikely to induce a major reshaping of the German space-economy; this will be dominated by the rivalry between the largest metropolitan centres." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
Regional context and realization of fertility intentions: the role of the urban context
Riederer B and Buber-Ennser I
Despite regional variation in fertility, rural-urban differences in the realization of fertility intentions have not been addressed in previous research. This paper analyzes the realization with data from 11 European countries, employing binomial and multinomial logistic regression models, decomposition analyses, and examining the role of contextual factors. The results demonstrate that realization is lower in urban than in rural regions. In cities, postponement of childbearing is much more common. This can be partly explained by differences in characteristics (e.g., age, partnership status) of inhabitants who intend to have a(nother) child. Furthermore, contextual factors such as educational and economic opportunities play a role.
Migration as spatial job-search: a survey of empirical findings
Herzog HW, Schlottmann AM and Boehm TP
"This paper surveys the empirical literature concerning the complex interrelationships among personal unemployment, migration and the likelihood of re-employment. Particular attention is devoted to those microdata-based studies that consider migration as spatial job-search. Implications concerning migration efficiency vary among the studies surveyed, and depend upon the methodology, data and econometric procedures employed. Recent findings by the authors, based upon a new estimation technique, provide additional evidence concerning the success of job-search vis-a-vis migration." The geographical focus is on the United States. (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
The impact of spatial spillovers on interprovincial migration in China, 2005-2010
Pu Y, Han X, Chi G, Wang Y, Ge Y and Kong F
In a migration network system, any change of regional characteristics may affect outflows and inflows from and to the region itself and potentially its neighbouring regions. To explore the impact of spatial spillovers on interprovincial migration flows in China, we proposed four spatial autoregressive interaction models by introducing different network structures to gravity models. The results indicate that the model taking account of dependence structure among origins, destinations, and flows is more accurate than the other models. Population size is the most critical determinant in interprovincial migration from 2005-2010 in China and is greatly strengthened by spatial spillovers.
Migration and the public sector: a survey
Charney AH
"A review of the existing literature on human migration reveals relatively few studies that explicitly examine the relationships between public policy decisions and human migration flows. The surveyed literature includes studies of national policies, such as defence spending, migration subsidies and intergovernmental transfers, as well as sub-national policies, such as welfare and unemployment benefits, state and local taxes, education and other public services. Suggestions for incorporating public sector information into existing migration analysis frameworks and further areas of research are provided." The geographical focus is on developed countries. (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)
Economic complexity and fertility: insights from a low fertility country
Innocenti N, Vignoli D and Lazzeretti L
This paper analyzes the relationship between a new indicator of economic context, economic complexity (EC), and fertility change in Italian provinces between 2006 and 2015. We hypothesize that the level of EC is associated with fertility as it reflects a territory's capacity to innovate, grow and create job opportunities. The results illustrate a clear positive association between EC and fertility change across Italian provinces for the period considered, net of traditional fertility predictors. Those areas that stand at the frontiers of EC are also more likely to dominate and adapt to the negative consequences of globalization.