Political polarization on the move: Analyzing geographical mobility between counties in the U.S

Zhengyi Liang and Jaeho Cho

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Research on geographical polarization typically focuses on residential segregation by partisanship, where individuals with similar political affiliations cluster in the neighborhoods. Our study extends this line of research beyond residential spaces by investigating the influence of political leaning on geographical mobility in non-residential, activity spaces. Specifically, by analyzing human mobility patterns between counties, we explore the effects of political leaning and the strength of political leaning on the preference for politically similar locations. We find that while political leaning does not significantly impact mobility preferences, the strength of political leaning does, even after controlling for economic, demographic, and other contextual factors. Individuals traveling from counties with a strong political leaning are more likely to visit politically congruent destinations. This finding suggests that everyday travel may align with political preferences in counties with politically homogeneous populations. Our study highlights a new research avenue for research on geographical polarization by focusing on human mobility, providing unique insights into how political divisions influence spatial segregation.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0339333

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0339333

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