Socioeconomic status influenced dispersal in early adulthood in Finland from 1760 to 1969

Dispersal away from the place of birth shapes an individual's life course and has effects on the demography of populations. Parental socioeconomic status (SES) might shape dispersal decisions of young individuals by providing resources that enable dispersal or philopatry. High familial wealth can allow young adults to remain in their birth place or, in contrast, provide necessary resources to disperse. Using a large demographic dataset from Finland (1760-1969), we examined how parental SES influenced both the probability and distance of dispersal among young men and women over time. Individuals from high-SES families were more likely to remain in their birth parishes than those from low-SES background. Across the study period, both the likelihood and distance of dispersal increased, reflecting the broader societal transitions. Our findings highlight how socioeconomic resources and historical changes impact dispersal behavior, revealing disparities in how such changes affect young adults with differential access to parental resources.