Lab Notes is our blog where we talk about the latest demographic, economic, social, and political trends—and whatever else is on our minds. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest and greatest Lab Notes delivered to your inbox. #LabNotes
The U.S. process for family-based or “chain” migration is complex. While the system allows for relatives to migrate to the United States for family reunification, it is far from an open-door policy. There are backlogs for family-sponsored visas ranging from two to 23 years depending on country of origin, family member being sponsored, and status of the sponsor.
Read MoreWhen used in a demographic context, natural change refers to the answer to a basic population equation: births minus deaths. Of the 42 states who saw population growth in 2017, more than half of them (23) have natural change—not migration—to thank for the majority of their growth. The youthful states of California (+214,000), Texas (+210,000), and New York (+73,000) lead the nation in natural increase in the latest year. And Utah’s nation-leading birth rate helped it lay claim to the title of 3rd fastest growing state in 2017.
Read MoreThe answer to the question of whether school districts decrease, replicate, or increase inequality is “Yes.” Or, more precisely, it depends on which district you are talking about. New research reveals that third graders in districts with high average reading and math test scores will not necessarily see bigger (or smaller) gains by eighth grade than will third graders in lower-scoring districts. But even the most effective school districts are only able to help their third graders achieve one extra year of growth by eighth grade.
Read MoreInternational migration is the most variable part of the equation for population change--as federal immigration policies and procedures, changing global economic conditions, and numerous other causes can dramatically change the flows of people into (and out of) the U.S. In 2017, front-runner state California gathered up 165,000 net international arrivals in 2017, ahead of Florida (+144,000), New York (+130,000), and Texas (+110,000). Not a single state saw more international arrivals in 2017 than in 2016, a reversal of otherwise climbing international migration figures over the decade, for nearly all states.
Read MoreHi. I’m a Millennial. We need to talk. In 2016, 15 percent of Older Millennials were living with their parents. Should we see this as a delay in adulthood? I would argue, no. Older Millennials are haunted by the Great Recession, and many are pinned down by crippling debt. For many, the “decision” to live at home with parents instead of independently is the financially responsible and economically rational choice. The traditional norms that may have governed our idea of adulthood may be transitioning into something that more accurately reflects this generation.
Read MoreThe tragic shooting at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has once again put gun policy on center stage in our national dialogue. Among the many and varied responses is a call to put more guns in the hands of trained school personnel, who might defend otherwise vulnerable students and school staff.
Read MoreThe flows of people across state boundaries—domestic migration—is of particular interest to a host of people: businesses feeling the pain of labor shortages, Census 2020 watchers wondering how Congressional seats will be reallocated, and even those for whom it’s a point of state pride. Netting 161,000 new residents from other states, Florida was the domestic migration champ in 2017. Second-place Texas had half as many domestic migrants (79,000). Next in line, North Carolina and Washington each acquired about 65,000 transplants in 2017, with Arizona just behind.
Read MoreCaitlyn Jenner. Bathroom bans and related boycotts. Amazon Prime’s Golden Globe winning Transparent series. President Trump’s (now overturned) order excluding transgendered individuals from the military. It is safe to say that questioning the traditional male-female gender binary is now part of our national dialogue. Other researchers and many of those working in public health are among those calling for more and better measurement of the nation’s gender diversity. Like other relatively small and difficult-to-estimate populations—those experiencing homelessness, some immigrant populations, the rare true geniuses that walk amongst us—getting some idea of the population size is but one step in helping to understand their unique needs and contributions.
Read MoreUnderneath the headline indicators, we know there are numerous untold economic stories. When we designed the MPR News | APM Research Lab Ground Level Survey, we were especially curious about Minnesotans’ sense of their financial circumstances and whether they felt they had improved or deteriorated since 2007—just preceding the financial crisis and subsequent recession with its long tail. Many of those north of the poverty line still fear they are in precarious financial straits.
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