Internal Migration and Relocation Aversion

Internal Migration and Relocation Aversion | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Internal Migration and Relocation Aversion Axel Watanabe This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6748568/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Feb, 2026 Read the published version in The Annals of Regional Science → Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Urban economics has long relied on the assumption of perfect mobility, where workers relocate in direct response to differences in local economic conditions. However, empirical evidence on internal migration reveals persistent frictions and a strong distance gradient. This paper develops a general equilibrium model of migration in which workers differ in their aversion to relocation. We focus on the role of distance, modeling it as a continuous variable that workers perceive logarithmically. The model predicts that large cities disproportionately attract workers with low relocation aversion and high tolerance for long-distance migration. It also shows that, when distance-related frictions are eliminated, smaller cities experience a greater reduction in agglomeration intensity than larger ones. JEL classification: J61, R23 geographic mobility internal migration agglomeration Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Feb, 2026 Read the published version in The Annals of Regional Science → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 16 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Aug, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Aug, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 28 May, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 28 May, 2025 First submitted to journal 26 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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