THE INFLUENCE OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE WILLINGNESS TO MOVE ON HUMAN CAPITAL ACCUMULATION IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA

This study uses logit analysis to examine the influence of the perception of local economic opportunities and the willingness to move on the educational aspirations of rural high-school-aged youths. Those youths who are more willing to move have a greater career opportunity set and a string incentive to achieve in school, since education allows them to compete for jobs elsewhere. A low willingness to move, coupled with a low perception of local job opportunities, translates into a low expected return to education, which reduces the incentive to achieve in school.