Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-2015
Journal or Book Title
Economic Development Quarterly
Volume
29
Issue
1
First Page
23
Last Page
37
DOI
10.1177/0891242414559070
Abstract
Rural regions of the United States have experienced detrimental out-migration, or brain drain, of college-educated individuals. The present study used survey data, gathered with an interactive website tool containing a comprehensive collection of economic and lifestyle features, to determine those most important in migration decisions for public university graduating seniors from the rural state of Iowa. Economic features (overall cost of living and a strong local economy) were ranked as the top features, followed by lifestyle features including two surprising features (access to basic consumer goods and access to health facilities). The impact of individual differences on the likelihood of moving and the selection of desired community features was also examined and proved to be statistically significant. For instance, in comparison with female graduates, male graduates selected educational level of residents and higher percentage of nonmarried residents features more frequently. Implications for policy development and marketing and economic development strategies are discussed.
Copyright Owner
Ann Marie Fiore, et al
Copyright Date
2015
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Fiore, Ann Marie; Niehm, Linda S.; Hurst, Jessica L.; Son, Jihyeong; Sadachar, Amrut; Russell, David W.; Swenson, David; and Seeger, Christopher, "Will They Stay or Will They Go? Community Features Important in Migration Decisions of Recent University Graduates" (2015). Apparel, Events and Hospitality Management Publications. 61.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/aeshm_pubs/61
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Public Policy Commons, Regional Economics Commons, Rural Sociology Commons, Urban Studies and Planning Commons
Comments
This is a manuscript of an article in Economic Development Quarterly 29 (2015): 23, doi:10.1177/0891242414559070.