Correlates of fertility and mortality in low‐migration standard metropolitan statistical areas

Abstract

Socioeconomic determinants of fertility and mortality were estimated by regression analysis for 29 low‐migration SMSA's located in the eastern part of the U. S. A low‐migration sample was chosen to maximize length of life history within the regions. Independent variables included per cent nonwhite, gross and net migration, population, density, medical care, welfare, per cent Catholic, education, income, and labor force participation. Density was measured by an index based on the census inventory of urban land. Mortality results include effects of migration on older nonwhite life expectancy, an inverse effect of density on life expectancy for older whites, specific income and educational effects on older life expectancies, different causative factors for e(50) and e(1,50), lack of influence of medical care (except for the nonwhite male), and significant infant mortality multiple correlations only for the nonwhite female. For nonwhite fertility, the inverse influences of per cent nonwhite and net migration 1960–70 were of greatest importance. White fertility showed a negative relationship with medical care and a positive one with nonwhite male e(0).