Abstract
Internal migration is one of the main drivers of local population change and therefore an important factor to consider in the provision of services across key domains such as housing, health and education. In recent years, the population of England and Wales has become increasingly ethnically diverse, with groups varying in age structure and time spent in the UK (whether at the group or individual level). However, relatively little is known about the internal migration patterns of these diverse groups, with research into internal migration propensity not accounting for the possible interplay between ethnicity, country of birth and age. Using micro‐data from the 2011 Census for England and Wales, this paper addresses this gap in knowledge, exploring whether widely reported determinants of internal migration operate differently for different ethnic groups, stratified by age and country of birth. This paper also explores whether for ethnic minority groups born overseas, time spent in the UK matters for migration propensity. When stratifying ethnic groups by age and country of birth, differences in migration propensity do not appear to be explained by socio‐economic differences, as previous research in the field suggests. However, for those born overseas, some of the differences are explained by time spent in the UK. From a policy perspective, it is evident that a more nuanced understanding of the way in which propensity to migrate may vary between ethnic groups differing in age and country of birth is needed to ensure sustained provision and equitable access across key service domains. Further research must examine the extent to which differences in migration propensity shapes the nature of migration events, whether in terms of distance or frequency of move.
Highlights
The size, concentration and spatial distribution of ethnic group populations across the UK increasingly permeates academic debate, policy agendas and media headlines
We sought to account for the hitherto neglected interplay between ethnicity, age and county of birth in shaping differences in propensity to migrate for different ethnic groups in the UK
Contrasting with key previous studies, we found that differences in migration propensity between ethnic groups differentiated by country of birth or age were not explained by the socio‐economic factors controlled for in our models
Summary
The size, concentration and spatial distribution of ethnic group populations across the UK increasingly permeates academic debate, policy agendas and media headlines. Longer distance moves are more often associated with (increasing) prosperity: where differences in propensity to migrate across longer distances are observed among ethnic groups (differentiated by age, country of birth and time spent in the UK), questions arise about the equity of the opportunities available within the population. It is argued that differences in rates of internal migration between ethnic groups arise because of differences in their socio‐economic composition and age profile This was not the case for differences in distance moved and this research did not differentiate within ethnic groups depending on their country of birth. When analyses of migration patterns are aggregated by age, this has been found to mask important variations at the total population level (Sander, 2018) This may be enhanced when differentiated by ethnic group and country of birth. Health positively selects younger migrants who are more likely to move across greater distances whereas poor health may motivate moves across shorter distances, and act as a trigger for a move in older ages (Bentham, 1988; Boyle et al, 2002; Darlington‐Pollock et al, 2018)
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