Interstate Migration: A Test of Competing Interpretations

This study presents a model of net interstate migration in the United States during the 1970s. Of 5 composite dimensions derived from an exploratory factor analysis of 20 candidate predictors of interstate migration, the greatest predictive power in an ordinary least squares regression analysis is attained by a set of quality-of-life correlates of migration. Composites of fiscal policy and labor relations variables, more controllable by public decisionmakers, are also significant.     

Methodologies for Examining Homelessness and Their Application to a Mandated Statewide Study

Using findings from a federally mandated statewide study of homelessness in the state of Iowa, this paper presents methodologies developed to address various aspects of homeless research, including enumeration of the population, screening for reporting duplications, estimating the annual number of incidents of homelessness, and exploring county-level estimates of homelessness. After implementing an algorithm to eliminate duplicate reporting, and using the baseline unduplicated reported number of homeless persons, a statewide estimate of the number of homeless individuals was derived. Following further adjustments for differences in agency reporting practices and after extrapolating for nonreported time periods, we estimated the number of Unique incidents of homelessness experienced in the state during the year of the study (1997). The policy implications of these findings are discussed.