The Effects of Intermetropolitan Migration on the Labor Force Participation of Disadvantaged Black Men in Atlanta

This research addresses the question whether one metropolitan area experiencing rapid growth of its economy passes the benefits along to its poor resident population. In popular parlance, does a "rising tide lift all boats"? The method employed here is to study one metropolitan economy in some depth, concentrating on the composition of the labor force and its growth, as well as migration in and out of the metropolitan area. This is done for Atlanta, using data from the 5% Public Use Microdata Sample for the entire country for 1990. The authors learned that the volume of net in-migration overwhelms the job market, creating serious problems, especially for minorities and the young. The research suggests that approaches to economic development beyond job creation and job training are necessary in Atlanta, and it provides a template for those studying their own regional economies.