Migration and regional science: opportunities and challenges in a changing environment

Migration studies have a long history within regional science. This paper reviews the current status of migration research within regional science and asks whether migration continues to maintain the presence and import in regional science that appeared in earlier, similar analyses such as Anselin and Rey (Int Reg Sci Rev 23(4):323–344, 2000) and Plane and Bitter (Pap Reg Sci J RSAI 76:133–153, 1997). The paper looks at the relative strength of migration studies within regional science and the challenges (and concomitant) opportunities that are available. It begins by replicating a portion of a 1997 study by Plane and Bitter which evaluated the prevalence of migration research within the regional science literature. Based on findings that the proportion of both migration and population-themed papers have decreased, the paper then considers the challenges facing researchers, including data and training challenges, along with the need to ensure that migration research remains relevant, before offering concluding remarks.