Stillwell, J, Bell, M, Ueffing, P et al. (4 more authors) (2016) Internal migration around the world: comparing distance travelled and its frictional effect. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 48 (8). pp. 1657-1675. ISSN 0308-518X
Abstract
This paper examines how internal migration distance and its frictional effect vary between countries. Such comparisons are hampered by differences in the number and configuration of spatial units for which data are available − the modifiable area unit problem (MAUP). We use the flexible aggregation routines embedded in the IMAGE Studio, a bespoke software platform which incorporates a spatial interaction model, to elucidate these scale and pattern effects in a set of countries for which finely grained origin-destination matrices are available. We model the relationship between mean migration distance and mean area size and we show that the frictional effect of distance remains remarkably stable across spatial scale, except where zones have small populations and are poorly connected. This stability allows robust comparisons between countries even though zonal systems differ. We find that mean migration distances vary widely, being highest in large, low-density countries and positively associated with urbanisation, HDI and GDP per capita. This suggests a positive link between development and migration distance, paralleling that between development and migration intensity. We find less variation in the beta parameter that measures distance friction but identify clear spatial divisions between more developed countries, with lower friction in larger, less dense countries undergoing rapid population growth.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2016, the Authors. This is an author produced version of a paper accepted for publication in Environment and Planning A. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Distance decay; Internal migration; mean migration distance; Spatial interaction modelling; zonal aggregation |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > Centre for Spatial Analysis & Policy (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number ESRC H507255177 ESRC ESRC:RES-163-34-1001 ESRC ES/D000114/105 ESRC ES/E016561/10028 ESRC RES-163-34-1001 ESRC RES-16334-1001 EU - European Union 2013/1/3 081_PR1_03_0063 ESRC ES/I025634/1 ESRC RES-348-25-0005-01 Office for National Statistics ONS/LEEDS Australian Research Council DP110101363 ESRC ES/J02337X/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 26 Apr 2016 11:38 |
Last Modified: | 13 Aug 2020 15:36 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0308518X16643963 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Sage Publications |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/0308518X16643963 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:96816 |