The effect of the social welfare system on metropolitan migration in the US, by income group, gender and family structure. Urban Studies 30

Summary. This research paper addresses some important issues regarding out-migration from and in-migration to metropolitan areas in the US, particularly the effect of the social welfare system on migration decisions. The primary focus is on migration by income group (poor versus non-poor), with a secondary focus on how gender and family status relate to migration. The results provide only very weak support for the hypothesis that social welfare benefits influence out-migration decisions (only of non-poor female-headed households), but moderate support for the effect of such benefits on in-migration decisions, especially of low-income and female-headed households. 1