Migration patterns and returns to migration among female-headed families

Abstract

The main goal of this dissertation was to study migration patterns and socioeconomic returns to migration among migrant female-headed families. The Texas data used in the dissertation were drawn from public-use microdata files and other U.S. Census sources. The model tested in the dissertation, the resource-diversity model, predicts migration patterns and income and occupational returns to migration among migrant female-headed families in the basis of several area- and individual-level variables. More specifically, the resource-diversity model tested predicts that indicators of area economic resources, industrial diversity and industrial composition, and area socioeconomic conditions will significantly predict migration patterns and returns to migration among migrant female heads of families while holding individual differences constant. Consistent with research findings discussed in the migration literature, this model predicts that, like other groups of migrants, migrant female heads of families migrate in significantly higher proportions to areas with the more favorable socioeconomic conditions. Among other things, the model predicts that migrant female heads of families' economic returns will be adversely affected at areas of destination where a relatively high percent of all workers are employed in the more 'female-dominated' industry sectors and in areas of destination with high unemployment and a high degree of occupational sex-segregation. In addition, the model predicts that the relative number of workers in the area of destination employed in the different industry sectors is not a significant predictor of occupational returns to migration among migrant female-headed families since women, across all industry sectors, tend to be employed on a very limited number of occupations. The findings of the dissertation show that, opposite to what the model predicted, migrant female heads of families tend to migrate in significantly higher proportions to poorer areas with strong activity the manufacturing sector. The findings also show that the economic returns to migration among migrant female heads of families are significantly lower at areas of destination with higher levels of female unemployment and where a relatively high percent of all workers are employed in the more traditional 'female-dominated' industry sectors, such as in services. Also, as expected, the relative number of workers employed in the different sectors at the area of destination did not have a significant impact upon the occupational status of migrant female heads of families. These and other more specific findings are discussed in the dissertation in light of their theoretical and practical implications.