Migration analysis: A case study for local public policy

This case study illustrates the extent to which internal migration data from decennial census sources, including published reports, Summary Tape Files, special migration tabulations, and Public Use Microdata Samples, as well as other migration data including decadal net migration estimates and Internal Revenue Service annual estimates can be combined to comprehensively evaluate the influence of migration on a particular county. The analysis of migration addresses public-policy concerns raised by the Dane County, Wisconsin, Department of Human Services regarding "welfare magnetism", the in-migration from out-of-state of poor, less-educated female householders with children receiving public assistance, and the county's contribution to Wisconsin's perceived "brain drain", the net loss through migration of more highly-educated individuals. While net migration is contributing to higher numbers and rates of persons living in the county with incomes at or below poverty, the in-migration of persons fitting the "welfare magnet" description is dwarfed by the in-migration of poor persons fitting the "college student" description.