A proposal for detecting spatial contagion: Some evidence on the international migration distribution in Spain1. (27th February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hierro, María; Maza, Adolfo; Villaverde, José
• Is Part Of: Papers in regional science. Volume 92:Number 4(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 811
• Page End: 829
• Publication Date: 2013-02-27
• Subjects: C21 -- J61 -- O18; International migration -- spatial Markov chain approach -- contagion effect -- Spanish provinces; Regional planning -- Periodicals; City planning -- Periodicals; Urbanization -- Periodicals; Economic geography -- Periodicals; 307.12
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1435-5957.2012.00458.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1056-8190

Abstract

Abstract: This paper tries to ascertain whether spatial contagion operated in international migration across neighbouring provinces in Spain during the 1998–2009 period. After a general depiction of the international migration distribution in Spain, the study focuses on the role played by space and, particularly, on the possible existence of geographical contagion effects. For this aim, two novel indexes of spatial contagion, based on a spatial Markov chain approach, are proposed. Two main results are drawn from the analysis: first, that spatial clustering exists in the distribution; second, that there are contagion effects, positive contagion among provinces surrounded by high‐immigration provinces being the most significant.