The Appalachian region is characterized by low wages, high unemployment, high poverty, and limited economic opportunities. Standard models of migration predict that such conditions should generate substantial out-migration, yet migration rates from Appalachia are lower than in the rest of the United States. We examine three potential explanations for this pattern: First, a poverty trap: Appalachians are disproportionately lower-income and less-educated, and thus more likely to face liquidity constraints and information frictions that suppress migration. Second, housing lock: homeownership rates are higher in Appalachia, while housing values are lower, potentially offsetting earnings gains from moving. Finally, Appalachians may have stronger preferences for local amenities, including proximity to family. Using linked data from the American Community Survey and the Census Master Address File, we estimate migration responses to household characteristics and local economic conditions. Standard economic factors explain only about one-third of the Appalachian migration gap, suggesting a role for place-specific preferences or local ties. These findings point to the importance of non-pecuniary factors in shaping mobility decisions in distressed regions.
Presented by:
Christopher R. Bollinger (University of Kentucky)
Date & time:
October 7, 2026 12:30 pm - October 7, 2026 1:30 pm
Venue:
2N2.4.16 (ISER Large Seminar Room)
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