In retirement migration, who counts? A methodological question with economic policy implications.
OBJECTIVE
We examine the methodological and economic policy implications of three operations of retirement migration.


METHODS
We compared the traditional age-based definition of retirement migration and two retirement-based definitions, based on degree of labor-force participation and retirement income, by using the 2000 U.S. Census Public Use Microdata Sample.


RESULTS
The age-based definition overestimated the number of retired migrants, although the ranking of host and donor states remained relatively stable; nevertheless, states revealed different rates of change in inmigration and outmigration and income streams declined.


CONCLUSIONS
Retirement-based definitions are more useful and precise for those researchers considering the economic implication of retirement migration.
Haas
William H
WH
Department of Sociology, One University Heights, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC 28804-8508, USA. Haas@UNCA.edu
Bradley
Don E
DE
Longino
Charles F
CF
Stoller
Eleanor P
EP
Serow
William J
WJ
D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011157:Population Dynamics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D012179:Retirement / Q000191:economics*; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014481:United States