Home Bias: Investigating the Impact of State Borders on Internal Migration

Last registered on January 18, 2023
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Home Bias: Investigating the Impact of State Borders on Internal Migration
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0009590
Initial registration date
June 15, 2022

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
June 17, 2022, 4:16 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
January 18, 2023, 1:51 PM EST

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Riley Wilson
Affiliation
Brigham Young University
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2022-06-20
End date
2023-08-31
Keywords
Labor
Additional Keywords
Migration, Mobility
JEL code(s)
J6, R1
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Observational data suggests that human mobility (migration and commuting) drops off discretely at state borders. This online survey experiment will test if state borders have a causal effect on people's stated preference to move, holding other features of the potential destination constant and separate from the effect of maintaining/severing social ties to friends and family. In addition, by experimentally manipulating income differences associated with the move, I can back out people's willingness to pay to avoid moving across state lines and determine the economic cost of state borders.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Wilson, Riley. 2023. "Home Bias: Investigating the Impact of State Borders on Internal Migration." AEA RCT Registry. January 18. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.9590-1.2
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
In the survey, participants will view scenarios that involve an increase in income, but require a move, of about 100 miles. I will intervene by randomly assigning participants to a scenario that does/does not include a move across state lines. I will also intervene by randomly assigning participants to a scenario that does/does not include family and friends nearby.
Intervention Start Date
2022-06-20
Intervention End Date
2023-01-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Reported percent chance of moving, Difference in probability of moving between two scenarios.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
This is measure is reported by the individual. The difference will be constructed as the probability in the first experiment minus the probability in the second reverse experiment.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
In the survey, participants will view scenarios that involve an increase in income, but require a move, of about 100 miles. They will then be asked to report the percent chance that they would move and the percent chance that they would stay. Participants will be randomized so that they view a scenario that involves either a within state or a cross-state move. They will also be independently randomized whether or not the new location has family and current friends living nearby.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization will be done by Qualtrics in the online survey.
Randomization Unit
All treatment randomization will be done at the individual level.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
1,200 individuals.
Sample size: planned number of observations
1,200 individuals.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Planned sample sizes:
Same state, social ties nearby, 10% income: 100 individuals
Same state, no social ties nearby, 10% income: 100 individuals
Different state, social ties nearby, 10% income: 100 individuals
Different state, no social ties nearby, 10% income: 100 individuals
Same state, social ties nearby, 20% income: 100 individuals
Same state, no social ties nearby, 20% income: 100 individuals
Different state, social ties nearby, 20% income: 100 individuals
Different state, no social ties nearby, 20% income: 100 individuals
Same state, social ties nearby, 50% income: 100 individuals
Same state, no social ties nearby, 50% income: 100 individuals
Different state, social ties nearby, 50% income: 100 individuals
Different state, no social ties nearby, 50% income: 100 individuals
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Brigham Young University Institutional Review Board
IRB Approval Date
2022-06-15
IRB Approval Number
IRB2022-243
Analysis Plan

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