Combining census and registration data to analyse ethnic migration patterns in England from 1991 to 2007

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a model that allows us to combine annual (incomplete) registration data with (auxiliary) census data. The result is a synthetic database that can be used to analyse the evolution of specific migrant groups over time. For illustration, we model the evolution of ethnic interregional migration in England by age and sex from 1991 to 2007 by combining National Health Service registration data with 1991 and 2001 census data. This annual time series of detailed migration flows is useful for both planning and for understanding ethnic population redistribution. Furthermore, changes over time can be related to regions exhibiting, for example, high unemployment, high costs of living, or high immigrant concentrations.