The residential location choice of the elderly in Korea: A multilevel logit model

The present study explores a residential movement of elderly households, which is postulated based on the probabilistic choice theory. This study intends to develop a residential location choice model integrating micro- and macro-approaches by adding regional factors to the probabilistic choice model in terms of the individual level. With the movement to rural areas being given more focus, the estimated results will have implications on local governments' policies with regard to the shrinking population. The findings suggest that the propensities associated with the decision to move to rural areas vary in different regions. The unemployed elderly or the elderly who live with their children are most likely to move to urban areas, while elderly couples show more inclination to migrate to rural areas than the spouseless elderly. This study presents that the probability that the urban elderly will move to rural areas is lower than that of the rural elderly.