Geographers, demographers, sociologists, and other social scientists have clearly documented that both migration and fertility rates are highly correlated with employment rates, but little attention has been paid to possible direct relationships between individual and household decisions to relocate and to have children. This Research Opportunities for Women Planning Grant will enable the investigator to begin a systematic exploration of that relationship by articulating and refining statistical methods that can be used in a variety of regional contexts and at different scales. The investigator also will begin testing a macro-level model of the linkages between migration and fertility, using data at the state level. This project will be the first step in what should be a significant effort that will enhance both theoretical and empirical knowledge about these important demographic relationships. The project also will provide a superb opportunity for a young female scholar with an excellent background to further improve her basic research skills.
