Spatial aspects of internal migration in Italy. A longitudinal approach.

The paper investigates the internal migration in Italy between 1930 and 2010 in a longitudinal perspective. Risk and distances of migration of first and second order are analysed for people with age 20-49. Data are collected using an ad hoc CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system survey, involving around 2,000 respondents born and resident in Italy. A survival model is used for measuring risk of out-migration and OLS (Ordinary least squares) regression models for distance. The variables that emerge as most influencing the risk of migration are the subject’s place of residence and previous life-history. Migratory distance greatly depends on the migrants’ socio-economic background and reason for migrating. The main determinants of internal migration at individual level are education and having previously migrated at a younger age.