This article outlines three explanations for why states seek migrants
and tests them by reference to 1985-90 interstate migration flows. On
race-for-the-top theories, states compete for value-increasing migrant
s by offering them healthy economies and efficient laws. On vote-seeki
ng theories, states compete for clienteles of voters, with some states
seeking to attract and some to deter welfare- or tax-loving migrants.
On deadbeat theories, states compete for high human capital debtors b
y offering them a fresh start from out-of-state creditors. Our finding
s support vote-seeking and deadbeat theories.