In retirement migration, who counts? A methodological question with economic policy implications.

PURPOSE

We examine the methodological and economic policy implications of three operations of retirement migration.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We compared the traditional age-based definition of retirement migration and two retirement-based definitions, based on degree of labor-force participation and retirement income, by using the 2000 U.S. Census Public Use Microdata Sample.

RESULTS

The age-based definition overestimated the number of retired migrants, although the ranking of host and donor states remained relatively stable; nevertheless, states revealed different rates of change in inmigration and outmigration and income streams declined.

IMPLICATIONS

Retirement-based definitions are more useful and precise for those researchers considering the economic implication of retirement migration.