Abstract

Internal Migration and Regional Wage Levels. An Analysis of Internal Migrations in the Federal Republic of Germany 1957-1967

The author attempts an empirical verification of the thesis that migrations always tend to areas with higher wage levels. He finds statistical data so poor, however, that only a few arguments in favour of this thesis can be obtained. First, he shows a strong correlation of industrial growth in different German states and the development of their migration balances. In this case of demand induced migrations the different wage levels seem to be a decisive incentive for migration. Second, the author finds that those branches, which rank highest in the rate of growth of employment, also top the wage scale. Moreover, these industries had the fastest expansion in states with positive migration balances. Finally, the author shows, that interlocal distances have lost their former importance as an obstacle to migration. Thus interregional wage level differences increase their importance as a migration stimulus. In view of the unsatisfactory statistical basic material the author demands more public support of empirical research in the field of social sciences