Immigration, Intended Settlement Patterns, and their Dynamics in the United States, 1980-1990

The intended destination pattern of immigrant settlement is a potentially dynamic choice, with fiscal and adjustment implications for both immigrants and the receiving area. Using yearly data from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the intended immigrant settlement pattern is examined within a pooled cross-section time-series framework, focusing on the twenty-five largest U.S. metropolitan areas between 1980 and 1990. Trends in settlement patterns differentiate between the immigration streams from various sources and immigrant classes. Although no systematic differences were found across national origin groups, the results show that the choice of the intended destination is a dynamic process. Characteristics and determinants of settlement choice, particularly with respect to family and friends effects (as opposed to economic effects), change over time.