Working Paper: NBER ID: w27268
Authors: William J. Collins
Abstract: The Great Migration from the US South is a prominent theme in economic history research not only because it was a prime example of large scale internal migration, but also because it had far-reaching ramifications for American economic, social, and political change. This article offers a concise review of the literature focused on questions of timing, selection, and migrants’ outcomes, and then offers a more speculative interpretation of how the Great Migration fostered the advancement of Civil Rights. It concludes by pointing out areas where further exploration would be valuable.
Keywords: Great Migration; Black Americans; Civil Rights; Economic History
JEL Codes: J15; J61; J7; N32; N92
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Political Landscape (D72) | Civil Rights Movement (J15) |
| Great Migration (F22) | Health Outcomes (I14) |
| Great Migration (F22) | Incarceration Rates (K14) |
| Great Migration (F22) | Segregation (R28) |
| Great Migration (F22) | Political Power Dynamics (D72) |
| Great Migration (F22) | Political Landscape (D72) |
| Great Migration (F22) | Economic Gains for Migrants (F24) |
| Great Migration (F22) | Labor Market Outcomes (J48) |