TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial Dependence, Social Networks, and Economic Structures in Japanese Regional Labor Migration
AU - Murayama, Koji
AU - Nagayasu, Jun
AU - Bazzaoui, Lamia
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding: Murayama acknowledges financial support from the Japan Investment Advisers Association for travel expenses. This research was partially supported by the Tohoku Forum for Creativity via the thematic program “Environmental and Financial Risks”.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2022/2/1
Y1 - 2022/2/1
N2 - This study empirically analyzes the determinants of regional labor migration in Japan, where small towns are disappearing due to the shortage of labor. Using spatial models of origin– destination flows and considering network effects of labor and economic structures, we obtain results more consistent with the standard migration theory, compared to previous studies. In particular, we find that migration decisions are based on economic motivations and that high (low) unemployment rates in origin (destination) regions and low income in origin regions are important determinants of labor migration flows. Second, we report that network effects, which help reduce migration costs, play a significant role in the relocation of labor. Finally, considering different definitions of spatial weights based on distance, the volume of traded goods, and economic structures, we show that regional dependence is most appropriately defined by the similarity in economic structures. In other words, migration patterns are similar between regions that rely on analogous economic activities.
AB - This study empirically analyzes the determinants of regional labor migration in Japan, where small towns are disappearing due to the shortage of labor. Using spatial models of origin– destination flows and considering network effects of labor and economic structures, we obtain results more consistent with the standard migration theory, compared to previous studies. In particular, we find that migration decisions are based on economic motivations and that high (low) unemployment rates in origin (destination) regions and low income in origin regions are important determinants of labor migration flows. Second, we report that network effects, which help reduce migration costs, play a significant role in the relocation of labor. Finally, considering different definitions of spatial weights based on distance, the volume of traded goods, and economic structures, we show that regional dependence is most appropriately defined by the similarity in economic structures. In other words, migration patterns are similar between regions that rely on analogous economic activities.
KW - Economic structures
KW - Job skills
KW - Labor migration
KW - Network effects
KW - Regional economy
KW - Spatial models
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U2 - 10.3390/su14031865
DO - 10.3390/su14031865
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85125191808
SN - 2071-1050
VL - 14
JO - Sustainability (Switzerland)
JF - Sustainability (Switzerland)
IS - 3
M1 - 1865
ER -
