The factors that influence the decision to migrate and the relative magnitude of each factor.

1. Social factors: new friends, new surroundings, just to get away (such as from rural areas to cities where “more is happening”), right of passage, family and friends in possible destinations.

2. Physical factors: natural disasters like floods (Katrina), earthquakes, nuclear risks, tsunamis.

3. Demographic factors: demographic transition, maturing of the baby boom out of the most highly mobile age classes.

4. Cultural factors: religion, ethnicity.

5. Communication factors: improved transportation networks (steamships, railroads), radio, TV, cinema, internet—all factors that change the obstacles to migration.

Economic variables employment opportunities

job characteristicsoccupationfull vs part-timeseasonal

earnings employment rate—

probability of getting a job of one's choice

location of alternative opportunities

cost of livinghousing

availabilitycoststyleland valuesaccessibility to jobs

taxesincomepropertysalesinheritance

transportationenergy food and clothingnational inflation rate

education opportunities—for one's self and for one's children

Amenity/disamenity variables exogenous amenities

climatewarmcoldtemperature

variancehumiditywindprecipitation

terrainmountainsforestslakesbeaches

hazardsearthquakestornadoeshurricanesfloods

endogenous amenitiescrimetrafficrecreation

etc.

pollutionhazards

nuclear wastenuclear trafficetc.

mixed endogenous/exogenous amenities/disamenitiessocial/cultural

amenitiespresence of relativespresence of friendsdistance from

relatives and friendsdistance from prior

residencepresence of

minoritieslife styles — social

milieu

availability of health care doctors hospitals nursing homes

recreational amenitiesgolfingfishingsightseeinghuntingswimmingcyclingpicnickinggamingarts and craftsrestaurantsshopping