Internal migration in Britain, 2000–01, examined through an area classification framework

Abstract

This paper explores the age variations in origin-destination migration data from the 2001 UK Census. It does so using a national district classifi cation as a framework for summarising what is a series of matrices, each containing very large numbers of cells. The results demonstrate how migration propensities and patterns vary between different types of district, providing new insights into the processes through which the population is redistributed throughout GreatBritain.

New Forms of Data for Understanding Urban Activity in Developing Countries

“…The large number or origin/destination pairs in interaction datasets means that analysis of the raw data can be affected by noise and large occurrences of small interactions. To reduce the dimensions of large interaction matrices and smooth out some of the noise, a number of authors have grouped origins and destinations into clusters defined by particular characteristics (Reades and Smith 2014;Dennett and Stillwell 2010). This process also aids the contextualisation of the observed flows as described above.…”

A new area classification for understanding internal migration in Britain

“…As noted in the introduction section, even in a spatial system containing just a few hundred zones, for every zone in the system the potential for an interaction to occur with every other zone means that the whole system consists of a large number of origin to destination flows (the number of zones squared). Consequently, a number of pieces of migration research (Dennett and Stillwell 2010b;Rees et al 1996) have made use of existing classification systems which group together zones with similar population characteristics, greatly reducing the number of origins and destinations and facilitating analysis.…”

“…As has already been noted, a number of pieces of work have made use of district level area classifications in their analysis. Champion et al (2007) opt for a straightforward metropolitan/non-metropolitan distinction in part of an analysis of migration and socio-economic change; make use of the ONS classification of local authority districts; however, Dennett and Stillwell (2010b) choose to use another classification of districts developed by Vickers et al (2003).…”

“…In an effort to reduce the complexity of internal migration, work by Dennett and Stillwell (2010b) and has made use of general-purpose area classifications which group areas with similar overall population characteristics into clusters, reducing the number of origins and destinations. However, as indicated by Duke-Williams (2010), migrant populations do not necessarily share the same characteristics as settled populations and thus the use of general-purpose classifications in migration analysis may confound important patterns where similar types of migration flow are obscured by clusters in the classification defined by different underlying populations.…”

The changing living arrangements of young adults in the UK

“…More generally however, Dennett and Stillwell document the flow of 16-29 year olds away from rural areas towards large urban areas in search of employment opportunities, and that London remains a key destination on leaving higher education. 26 The proportion living with a parent is highest in Northern Ireland, 27 Strathclyde, the West Midlands Metropolitan County and outer London (and among men non metropolitan parts of the North East). We might speculate that the pattern in outer London is related to the potential for young adults to remain living in the parental home while exploiting the employment and education opportunities available in neighbouring inner London.…”