The spatial concentration patterns of interprovincial migration flows in China, 1995–2000

By employing Moran´s I and Gini coefficient as measures of spatial concentration, we explore the spatial patterns of interprovincial migration sharing the same origin or destination in China, 1995-2000. The values of Moran´s I and Gini for out-migration streams of each province as an origin and in-migration streams of each province as a destination are estimated accordingly. Through comparing these two indices, we find that they are different from each other although they measure the spatial concentration of the same object. It is a good choice to consider the information provided by Moran´s I in conjunction with Gini coefficient in a migration system. Finally, we classify 31 provinces of China into several groups according to the results of both Moran´s I and Gini coefficient.