RECENT CHANGES IN METROPOLITAN-NONMETROPOLITAN MIGRATION STREAMS

In this paper, we examine the demographic and socioeconomic characteri stics of migration streams between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan ar eas for four different years over the period 1975-1993. During this pe riod, there have been three shifts in the direction of net metro-nonme tro migration. Through nonmetro net in-migration, the ''nonmetropolita n turnaround'' of the 1970s reversed historical patterns of nonmetro l oss of human resources, with gains and increased retention of the youn g and better-educated. The 1980s, however, again saw net-migration los s, including large shifts from gain to loss, especially among the youn g and better-educated and for workers in white collar occupations. In the 1990s, the overall pattern is again one of nonmetro net-migration gain or reduced loss, with the greatest increases among those higher s tatus groups which experienced the greatest declines during the 1980s. The latest pattern is due largely to increased population retention, whereas previous research has shown the migration turnaround of the 19 70s was due about equally to increasing retention and in-migration.