Migration and Health in England and Scotland: a Study of Migrant Selectivity and Salmon Bias

This study examines the health of migrants between England and Scotland comparing their health patterns with those of origin and host populations. While there is a growing literature on the health and mortality of international migrants, few studies have investigated the health of people moving within a country. We use individual-level data from the UK 1991 population census and apply the technique of logistic regression to analyse health differences between migrants and non-migrants. The analysis of the prevalence of a limiting long-term illness shows that on average migrants have better health than non-migrants. Scottish migrants are origin country selective by health, whereas English migrants are host country selective by health. English men in older working ages show significant health advantages over both origin and host populations. No evidence was found to support a Salmon Bias. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.