How far do internal migrants really move? Demonstrating a new method for the estimation of intra-zonal distance. Issue 1 (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stillwell, John; Thomas, Michael
• Is Part Of: Regional studies, regional science. Volume 3:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 28
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: internal migration -- distance -- postcodes -- centroids -- England -- spatial interaction model; Regional planning -- Periodicals; Regional economics -- Periodicals; Regional economics; Regional planning; Periodicals; 300
• DOI: 10.1080/21681376.2015.1109473
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2168-1376

Abstract

Abstract : This paper makes use of data on origin to destination migration by postcode derived from a large biannual consumer survey, Acxiom's Research Opinion Poll, to measure distances of migration within England in the mid-2000s. These data provide an opportunity to evaluate conventional methods of centroid-based estimation of inter-zonal distance and area-based estimation of intra-zonal distance, and demonstrate how the latter in particular generates problematic estimates. A new regression-based approach for generating intra-zonal distance is presented, resulting in significantly improved goodness-of-fit statistics when used in doubly constrained spatial interaction modelling of migration flows for local authority districts in England from the 2001 and 2011 Censuses.