Race, Class and Poverty Polarization across Metro Areas and States: Population Shifts and Migration Dynamics

This paper analyzes U.S. census findings to identify links between the race-selective redistribution pattern across regions and metropolitan areas -- and distribution shifts on two socio-economic measures: poverty status and education attainment. The following three questions are addressed: (1) Are distinct geographic distribution patterns emerging by poverty status and education attainment? (2) How are these linked to recent race and ethnic demographic shifts? and (3) What is the role of immigration versus internal migration in accounting for poverty? Results show that (1) distinct geographic distribution patterns do exist for population segments classed by poverty and education attainment status; (2) the sharp geographic distribution differences between minority and white majority populations do affect distributions on the two socio-economic dimentions; and (3) immigration plays a large role in distributing the poverty population.