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What Proportion of Children Stay in the Same Location as Adults, and How Does This Vary Across Location and Groups?
Upjohn Institute Working Papers
  • Timothy J. Bartik, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Upjohn Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6238-8181

Publication Date
2-1-2009
Series
Upjohn Institute Working Paper No. 09-145
DOI
10.17848/wp09-145
Abstract

This paper provides new information on what proportion of individuals spend their adult work lives in their childhood metropolitan area or state. I also examine how this proportion varies across different demographic groups, and with the size and growth rate of the metropolitan area. I find that the proportion of individuals who spend most of their adulthood in their childhood metropolitan area is surprisingly high. Furthermore, this proportion does not go down as much as one might think for smaller or slower-growing metropolitan areas, or for college-educated persons. These findings imply that state and local investments in children may pay off for the state or local area that makes these investments. A surprisingly large proportion of the individuals who benefit from these childhood investments will remain in the same state or local area as adults, thereby boosting the local economy.

Issue Date
February 2009
Citation Information
Bartik, Timothy J. 2009. "What Proportion of Children Stay in the Same Location as Adults, and How Does This Vary Across Location and Groups?" Upjohn Institute Working Paper No. 09-145. Kalamazoo, MI: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.