IMMIGRATION, WELFARE MAGNETS AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF CHILD POVERTY IN THE UNITED-STATES

This study presents a detailed look at the immigration and internal mi gration dynamics of child poverty for US States based on the 1990 US c ensus. It assesses the impact of two policy-relevant factors on the mi gration of poor children across States: (1) the role of high immigrati on levels as a potential ''push'' for native-born and longer-term resi dent poor children whose parents may be reacting to the economic compe tition or social costs in high immigration States; and (2) the role of State AFDC benefits as a potential ''pull'' for poor children who mig rate with their parents to States with higher benefit levels. The resu lts make plain that the interstate migration patterns of poverty child ren differ from those of nonpoverty children, especially among whites and blacks. Female-headed households show different inter-state migrat ion patterns than those in married-couple households. However, a multi variate analysis which includes standard state-level economic attribut es provides more support for an ''immigration push'' than for a ''welf are magnet pull'' in affecting the inter-state migration of poor child ren. The findings also show a demographic displacement of poor childre n occurring in high immigration States where the net out-migration of poor children is more than compensated by larger numbers of new immigr ant children in poor families with different demographic attributes. B ecause of these migration dynamics, the demographic profile of the chi ld poverty population will differ across States, suggesting the need f or different strategies toward reducing child poverty at the State lev el.