Randall G. Krieg

A Zero-inflated Poisson Model of Migration Frequency

This paper shows that the frequency of migration can be best modeled by a zero-inflated Poisson process, because it takes into account the overwhelming presence of zeros (nonmigrants) in the data. A failure to do so can cause the coefficients to be biased and also result in poor prediction. The major finding is that by using a zero-inflated process, the performance of the model in predicting migration behavior is substantially improved. In addition, frequent movers tend to be white, nonunionized, and tend to have fewer children, less stable marriages, and more frequent occupational changes.

Does Migration Function to Reduce Earnings Differentials by Race and Gender

Traditionally, studies of migration have focused on two functions of migration: first, as a means to redistribute societys labor force to its most efficient use and, second, at the level of the individual, as a human capital investment. This study investigates the role of migration in the determination of earnings differentials by race and gender. Microdata from the United Status Census are used to estimate earnings functions by race, gender, and migration status. Strong evidence is provided suggesting that unexplained portions of earnings differentials, reflecting wage discrimination and other unobserved heterogeneity, are substantially reduced for both race and gender through the process of interstate migration.

Correlates of student performance in Business and Economics Statistics

Over the years many studies have been done to investigate the determinants of student performance in courses of particular fields of study. However, this is not true of Introduction to Business and Economics Statistics. Our objective is to identify the correlates of student performance both overall, and on individual exams, in an Introduction to Business and Economics Statistics course. A wide variety of variables are found to significantly influence the performance of students, including their grades on previous exams and examination design. Our results indicate that it is important to isolate performance on individual exams.

Black-white regional migration and the impact of education: a multinomial logit analysis

This study investigates the demographic determinants of regional migration within the United States for the periods 1965–70 and 1975–80. Primary focus of the paper concerns racial differences in an individuals choice of destination region and the influence of educational attainment on this decision. Data used in the analysis are drawn from the United States census public-use microdata samples. Strong evidence is provided demonstrating that an individuals choice of destination region differs by race and that educational attainment has a significant impact on racial differences in the direction of regional migration. Moreover, racial selectivity and the influence of education is shown to be significantly different between time periods.

Occupational change and differing returns to migration by gender

Abstract In this paper I explore the consequences of migration on the earnings of individuals by gender and marital status. Microdata taken from the Panel study of Income Dynamics are used to measure the financial returns to intercounty migration for individuals in a temporal framework accounting for gains that accrue over time. Earnings are estimated for a pooled sample of migrants and nonmigrants in a two-stage procedure correcting for self-selection bias. In order to explain initial losses often incurred by migrants, employer and occupational change are interacted with migration status in earnings estimations. Results indicate that the impact of migration and occupational change vary by gender and marital status.