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Estimating the willingness to move within Great Britain: Importance and implications

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen Drinkwater

    (University of Surrey and WELMERC, University of Wales Swansea)

Abstract
The migration of labour is a mechanism through which local and regional labour market differentials can be reduced. It is likely that this mechanism will assume greater importance in the future so long as government assistance to deprived areas continues to decline, firms remain relatively immobile and European integration proceeds. However, Britons are thought to have relatively low migration rates, especially in comparison to their North American counterparts. Therefore in this paper, microdata are examined to establish the characteristics of individuals who are least willing to move and to compare the willingness to move of Britons with those of people from other countries. It is found that individuals from only a few other countries, including the US, are more willing to move within their own borders and that the willingness to move of Britons is higher than those of residents of several EU member states. Personal characteristics are found to be important determinants of the willingness to move, with the lowest educated the least willing and recent migrants the most willing to move. However, only small differences are found across spatial areas within Britain suggesting that there is not a great desire to move from the less prosperous parts of the country. The paper concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Drinkwater, 2003. "Estimating the willingness to move within Great Britain: Importance and implications," School of Economics Discussion Papers 1203, School of Economics, University of Surrey.
    • Handle: RePEc:sur:surrec:1203
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    File URL: https://repec.som.surrey.ac.uk/2003/DP12-03.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gil S. Epstein & Ira N. Gang, 2006. "The Influence of Others on Migration Plans," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(4), pages 652-665, November.
    2. Heather Dickey, 2014. "The Impact Of Migration On Regional Wage Inequality: A Semiparametric Approach," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(5), pages 893-915, November.
    3. Peter Huber & Jan Fidrmuc, 2006. "Who Is Willing to Migrate in the CEECS? Evidence From the Czech Republic," ERSA conference papers ersa06p471, European Regional Science Association.
    4. Stephen Drinkwater & David Blackaby, 2004. "Migration and Labour Market Differences: The Case of Wales," School of Economics Discussion Papers 0604, School of Economics, University of Surrey.
    5. Boman, Anders, 2012. "Employment effects of extended geographic scope in job search," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(5), pages 643-652.
    6. Jan Fidrmuc & Peter Huber, 2007. "The willingness to migrate in the CEECs evidence from the Czech Republic," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 34(4), pages 351-369, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Migration; Local and regional labour markets.;

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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