Developing Pressures for Migration Toward Rural Areas

Gallup Polls conducted between 1966 and 1972 indicated that the percentage of persons stating they would prefer living in a city has steadily declined, reaching the all-time low of 13 percent in 1972. Interviews conducted with a sample of 1,806 Americans showed that while one-third of the respondents currently live in towns, villages, or rural areas, almost 60 percent would prefer to. Data collected in various state surveys are generally supportive of the national polling data. A statewide sample of over 3,000 Washington State residents indicated some degree of preference for life in areas characterized by smaller populations and more open country. When combined with a series of other factors, this preference may contribute to significant pressures for migration to areas that provide easy access to rural amenities. This paper discusses the hypothesis that such factors as reduced social overhead costs of space, the fact that outdoor amenity goods are superior goods, the increased independence of income from location, and the increased costs in high density areas will combine with the residential preferences that are already evident to create increased pressures for migration toward rural areas. (NQ)