Spatial modeling of the migration of older people with a focus on amenities

Abstract

Using U.S. county-level migration data from the 2000 Census, we examine patterns of migration of older people. This study makes three contributions to the literature. First we focus attention on differences in migration patterns of older people by separately modeling four age classifications. Second, using Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), we look for and find significant spatial variation in the determinants of migration of older people. Third, because many older migrants relocate purely for quality of life, we examine the role of amenities, both natural and built, in explaining migration patterns.