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Economic freedom and migration: A metro area‐level analysis

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  • Imran Arif
  • Adam Hoffer
  • Dean Stansel
  • Donald Lacombe

Abstract

We examine the determinants of intra‐U.S. population migration at the metropolitan area level (MSA), with an emphasis on the presence of policies that are consistent with economic freedom. We are the first to produce a multivariate regression analysis of migration and economic freedom at the local level. Combining a 1993–2014 unbalanced panel of MSA‐to‐MSA migration data from the Internal Revenue Service with a new economic freedom index for U.S. metropolitan areas, we find that a 10% increase in economic freedom of a destination MSA, relative to the economic freedom of an origin MSA, was associated with a 27.4% increase in net migration from the origin MSA to the destination MSA. If we use mean net migration flows as a benchmark, we would expect a 10% increase in relative economic freedom to increase net migration to the destination MSA by 22 workers per year from each other MSA.

Suggested Citation

  • Imran Arif & Adam Hoffer & Dean Stansel & Donald Lacombe, 2020. "Economic freedom and migration: A metro area‐level analysis," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 87(1), pages 170-190, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:87:y:2020:i:1:p:170-190
    DOI: 10.1002/soej.12437
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    Cited by:

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    2. Imran Arif & John W. Dawson, 2023. "Pro‐market institutions and labor market outcomes: A panel‐data analysis of U.S. metropolitan areas," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 41(4), pages 629-652, October.
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    4. Imran Arif & Adam Hoffer & Brad Humphreys & Matthew Style, 2022. "New sports facilities do not drive migration between US cities," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 195-217, December.
    5. Craig A. Depken & Adam J. Hoffer & Abdul H. Kidwai, 2022. "An artefactual field experiment of group discrimination between sports fans," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 411-432, December.

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