Mobility, Housing Stress, and Neighborhood Contexts: Evidence from Los Angeles

Abstract

This paper examines, in two separate analyses, actual and planned residential moves. Although we now have robust models and substantive empirical analysis of residential mobility, especially of the role of housing consumption and the variables that trigger residential moves, we are less clear about how the model applies to minority households and in diverse ethnic settings. This paper uses data from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Study -a longitudinal study of mobility and neighborhood change in the Los Angeles region to contrast the mobility outcomes for white and Latino households. A separate analysis examines planned mobility and extends the analysis of the role of neighborhood variables in explaining expected mobility. The incorporation of measures of neighborhood satisfaction and dissatisfaction finds, as hypothesized, that low levels of satisfaction and whether or not the neighborhood is perceived as "close-knit" are modest predictors of the likelihood of future moves. However, the additive effect of neighborhood variables, beyond the structural effects of age and housing needs, on intentions is quite small.

Considering, planning, and realizing migration in early adulthood. The influence of life-course events and perceived opportunities on leaving the city in Germany

“…Clark and Ledwith (2006) found a positive effect of income on planning migration. Early adulthood, however, is a life-course phase in which financial resources are often scarce and the standard of living is relatively low, so whether someone has an own income might be more important than the amount of income.…”

“…The evidence concerning the association between the occurrence of childbirth and migration is mixed. In some studies, no effect (Clark and Huang 2003;Clark and Ledwith 2006) or even a negative effect (Li 2004) was found. Clark and Huang (2003) found childbirth to have an impact on moving in a longitudinal analysis but not in a cross-sectional analysis.…”

“…Considering relocation or having a desire to move was found to be strongly influenced by the satisfaction with housing, neighborhood or community issues (Rossi 1980;Speare 1974;Landale and Guest 1985) or the perception that opportunities might be better elsewhere (Kalter 1997). Satisfaction with local conditions was also found to influence planning relocation or having the intention to move, but only marginally (Rossi 1980;Fang 2006;Lu 1998Lu , 1999Clark and Ledwith 2006). 1 Realizing the move has been found to be at least moderately influenced by the intention to relocate (Rossi 1980;McHugh 1984;Landale and Guest 1985;De Jong et al 1985/86;Fuller et al 1985/86;Kan 1999).…”

“…Kulu (2008) found that the expectancy of a first birth enhances the likelihood of moving not only for couples but also for single persons and concludes that these moves are related to union formation. Any change in marital status enhances the risk of moving significantly (Clark and Huang 2003;Li 2004;Clark and Ledwith 2006) and naturally this also holds for divorce and separation.…”

“…Mobility intentions are mostly measured either as expectations to move (e.g. Duncan and Newman 1976;McHugh 1984;De Jong et al 1985/86) or as mobility plans (Kalter 1997;Clark and Ledwith 2006;Andersen 2008). Rarely were respondents asked about their thoughts or desires to relocate (e.g.…”