by
Kevin Highfill
By taking into account the net difference between income flowing into and out of the Springfield Region, one can identify areas of net income surplus or deficit. This information can assist public officials in discerning the possible causes of migration, which can be used to craft policies that maximize the benefits and minimizes the costs of migration.
- During the period 1995-2000, migration patterns netted the Springfield Region 17,079 people, bringing with them $331 million in additional income for the area. This data supports other evidence indicating the region has enjoyed rapid economic growth in recent years.
- Within Missouri, the Springfield Region tends to attract income from adjacent and nearby counties, and loses income to larger metro areas and those counties to the immediate west.
- Within the US, the Springfield Region loses income to Las Vegas, Southern Florida, and Nashville, gains income from Southern California, and trades income with Dallas and Denver. These data demonstrate the importance of the entertainment industry to the region, as well as demonstrating that educated and professional individuals leave for better economic opportunities.
- On an intraregional level, Greene County tends to attract income from outlying areas, while giving up income to Christian County. This reveals the attractiveness of living in a pastoral area between Springfield and Branson, instead of inside the city.
A subtle implication of the data is the drain of educated professionals from the Springfield Region. Consider the following facts:
1. The Census Bureau has found that one-third of county-to-county migration is work-related, and that highly-educated people are more likely to move for work-related reasons than those with less education.
2. According to the case studies presented above of US counties that benefited the most from out-migration from the Springfield Region, the largest portion of the lost income originated in Greene County.
3. According to Map 5, Greene County has a high concentration of educated people.
While not specifically stating so, the inference is that the Springfield region is losing highly-skilled employees. Policy makers in this region need to begin addressing ways to keep these individuals in the area.
