Why Is Geographic Mobility Declining? \ stacker news ~econ

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Why Is Geographic Mobility Declining?www.richmondfed.org/publications/research/economic_brief/2025/eb_25-19

307 sats \ 2 comments \ @carter 17h econ

200 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 16h

This is one of the biggest mysteries in American economics, right now.

It's only partially demographic. The US is becoming older, and older people move less, but migration is declining amongst basically all groups.

Here are a few explanations that are either unexplored or only lightly explored:

There's been an increase in state-specific policies on a whole range of stuff, which reduces migration because those policies are somewhat reflective of average local preferences.
As divorce rates rose, the number of people restricted from moving by joint-custody agreements rose.
The kinds of places that have been growing (Sun Belt metros) just happen to be further apart than the East Coast and Midwest metros that most people used to live in and migration probability decreases with distance.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @denlillaapan 15h

Summary of the report, please...?

Fuck it, just asked Grok to do it: https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=1923465994476929536

Long-term Trends: Population aging and increased earnings opportunities for women raise the cost of moving, as older individuals and dual-income households face higher opportunity costs.

Geographic Factors: Changes in the distribution of earnings, urban amenities, and housing prices make moving less financially rewarding. High housing costs, particularly in desirable areas, deter relocation.

Housing Regulations: Restrictions on housing supply exacerbate affordability issues, further discouraging migration.

esp the "geographic" factor speaks to me... the "pull" from elsewhere that was always a factor in America's insane mobility, just isn't that strong anymore. (Real, Ricardo-housing-adjusted) earnings are pretty equalized.