Bilateral Stream Matrix Balance
Sum an origin-destination migration matrix into out-migration totals per origin, in-migration totals per destination, net inflow per region and the grand total of movers.
Description
Sum an origin-destination migration matrix into out-migration totals per origin, in-migration totals per destination, net inflow per region and the grand total of movers.
Sum an origin-destination migration matrix into out-migration totals per origin, in-migration totals per destination, net inflow per region and the grand total of movers.1
When to use Bilateral Stream Matrix Balance
Use this migration measure when origins, destinations, reference periods, and the distinction between moves, movers, stocks, and flows are explicit.
- Streams
- Square matrix whose rows are origins and columns are destinations.
How the method works
- Out totals
- Out-migration totals for each region of origin.
- In totals
- In-migration totals for each destination.
- Net inflow
- Net inflow per region, positive when arrivals exceed departures.
- Total
- Total migrants across all streams.
Limitations and assumptions
Migration estimates are sensitive to boundary changes, return moves, duration thresholds, missing origin-destination cells, and whether the source records residence, birthplace, or events.
Alternative or Complementary measures
Compare flow-based estimates with residence or birthplace stocks and, where possible, an independent residual method. Gross inflows and outflows reveal movement that a net balance alone conceals.
References
-
Human migration — Wikipedia contributors
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