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The Untold Story of Internal Migration in Germany: Life-Cycle Patterns, Developments, and the Role of Education

Author

Listed:
  • Barabasch, Anton

    (Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany)

  • Cygan-Rehm, Kamila

    (Dresden University of Technology)

  • Heineck, Guido

    (University of Bamberg)

  • Vogler, Sebastian

    (Dresden University of Technology)

Abstract

This paper examines internal migration from a lifetime perspective using unique data on detailed residential biographies of individuals born in Germany between 1944 and 1986. We first describe life-cycle patterns of internal mobility and potential differences across space, time, and socio-demographic groups. We find substantial differences across the life course, with major location changes around important educational decisions and striking differences across groups, especially by educational attainment. We then investigate causality in the substantial education-mobility gradient. For identification, we exploit two policy-induced sources of variation, each shifting towards better education at a different margin of the ability distribution. Using a difference-in-differences and a regression discontinuity design, we find no effect of these policies on internal mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Barabasch, Anton & Cygan-Rehm, Kamila & Heineck, Guido & Vogler, Sebastian, 2025. "The Untold Story of Internal Migration in Germany: Life-Cycle Patterns, Developments, and the Role of Education," IZA Discussion Papers 17948, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17948
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    compulsory schooling; education; Germany; internal migration; regional mobility; enrollment cutoffs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • 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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