Rethinking the Migration Effects of Natural Amenities: Part Ii/Repenser Les Effets des Amenites Naturelles Sur la Migration‪.‬

Abstract In this two-part article, we systematically examine the effects of natural amenities on in-migration by looking at recent evidence from the U.S. Lake State of Wisconsin. In Part I, we develop a comprehensive review of the driving factors behind migration and generate indices using principal factor analysis and spatial overlay methods with initial models specified using ordinary least squares regressions. In Part II, we model the migration problem by considering spatial lag and error dependence simultaneously and identifying the optimal spatial weights matrix among a comprehensive array of possible specifications. Results suggest in-migration is determined jointly by demographic, social, economic, geographic, political and cultural forces within the context of varying natural amenity characteristics.