Determinants of Migration, Revisited

This empirical study investigates the impact on net state in-migration over the 2000-2003 period of a variety of economic and non-economic factors and thereby serves as a robustness test of previous studies. The empirical estimates indicate that the net state in-migration rate was an increasing function of median family income or expected median family income on the one hand and a decreasing function of the average cost of living. In addition, net state in-migration was an increasing function of the warmer temperatures, while being a decreasing function of the presence of hazardous waste sites. Finally, net state in-migration was an increasing function of fiscal surplus (measured as per capita state plus local government spending on public education minus per capita state plus local government property taxation) and a decreasing function of the presence of state individual income taxation.