Files
Abstract
Using U.S. Census data from 1950 to 2000, this paper provides a framework to
compare the responses of immigrant and native population growth to the economic
incentives offered by rural counties in the Midwest and the South. We find that
in marked contrast to urban immigrant populations, rural immigrants do not congregate in ethnic enclaves. Larger rural populations of immigrants do not attract
more immigrants, nor do they retard growth of the young native born population.
Immigrant populations are more responsive than native populations to economic
incentives. The native-born population tends to respond more to growth in specific
industries, while immigrant populations are more responsive to overall employment
growth. Rural immigrant population growth is not positively influenced by levels
of local welfare or other public services. Compared to earlier immigrant groups,
more recent waves of immigrants are influenced more by the number of jobs than
by income levels in deciding where to live.