Dynamics of Internal Migration Determinants for American Jews, 1985-1990 and 1995-2000

Uzi Rebhun, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Sidney Goldstein, Brown University

We examine how individual and structural factors have changed in determining Jewish migration in the U.S. between 1985-1990 and 1995-2000. Multinomial logistic regression analysis of the 1990 and 2000 NJPS shows that socio-demographic characteristics have increased their explanatory power of five-year migration. Over time, the effects of the socio-demographic characteristics have become more similar for intra- and interstate migration. After adding migration status at the beginning-of-period, contextual variables, and ethnic bonds, results from logistics regression analysis, limited to interstate mobility, were in accordance with the observations of the single-level analysis above. Additional findings suggest that previously experienced mobility increases subsequent interstate migration; that warm climate deters migration; and that unemployment encourages migration (which was later reversed). The importance of ethnic concentration has weakened over time albeit maintained statistically significant. We integrated the two surveys into one data set; all else being equal, “time” enhances the tendency of Jews to migrate.