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Research ArticleArticle

Internal Migration, Education, and Intergenerational Mobility: Evidence from American History

Zachary Ward
Published online before print October 12, 2020, 0619-10265R2; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.58.2.0619-10265R2
Zachary Ward
Zachary Ward is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics at Baylor University. Email: .
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Abstract

To what extent does internal migration lead to upward mobility? Using within-brother variation and a new linked dataset from the early 20th century, I show that internal migration led to significant gains in economic status. On average, the effect of migration was three-to-four times the effect of one year of education; for those raised in poorer households, the effect was up to ten times that of education. The evidence suggests that internal migration was a key strategy for intergenerational progress in a context of rapid industrialization, large rural-to-urban flows and wide interregional income gaps.

Keywords
  • internal migration
  • intergenerational mobility
  • urbanization
JEL Codes
  • J61
  • J62
  • N31
  • N32

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Journal of Human Resources: 58 (5)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 58, Issue 5
1 Sep 2023
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Internal Migration, Education, and Intergenerational Mobility: Evidence from American History
Zachary Ward
Journal of Human Resources Oct 2020, 0619-10265R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.58.2.0619-10265R2

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Internal Migration, Education, and Intergenerational Mobility: Evidence from American History
Zachary Ward
Journal of Human Resources Oct 2020, 0619-10265R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.58.2.0619-10265R2
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Keywords

  • internal migration
  • INTERGENERATIONAL MOBILITY
  • urbanization
  • J61
  • J62
  • N31
  • N32
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