By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-963338.mp3
Amherst, MA – The study comes from the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Focusing on migration between states and what motivates people to move, the study concludes that higher taxes are not driving people out of New England states. Assistant Research Professor and report author Jeffrey Thompson says people move for more personal reasons...... (Audio cut) The study assesses 18 years of data from the IRS from all 50 states. The Impact of Migration on Taxes study found that more than half of American adults have never lived in a state other than their birth state; the rate of people leaving New England is lower than the national average; and out-migration for Vermont is about the same as the national average. Montpelier-based Public Assets Institute President Paul Cillo says the report illustrates that it takes a lot for people to uproot themselves - if there's a job opportunity that's when they will leave...... (audio cut) Rather than worry about taxes, Jeffrey Thompson says policymakers should realize that most people will stay put ...... (audio cut) The study found that between 2008 and 2009, 13 percent of U.S. households moved - two-thirds were in the same county. Only 13 percent of all moves were relocations to another state.
Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst