Differential components of urban in-and outmobility

Abstract

This study tested three hypotheses concerning the differential association of social and economic factors with locational in- and outmobility. The results suggest that inmobility is predominantly affected by the economic milieu of towns, while outmobility is predominantly influenced by extant social conditions. A multivariate examination of locational outmobility identified high divorce rate, distance from a major city and large family size as significantly explaining 45.8% of the outmobility variance. Similar analysis of locational inmobility identified the unemployment rate and the ethnic composition as the variables signiciantly explaining 73.9% of the inmobility variance. The results, which were congruent to the first two hypotheses submitted, were discussed and interpreted. The hypothesis concerning the relationship between in- and outmobility was not confirmed. Within successful locations no significant, positive correlation between in- and outmobility rates was obtained, while among unsuccessful locations positive, significant correlations were obtained.