Examining Income Convergence in Southern United States

County-level data for 11 southern states were used to examine income convergence between 1980 and 2000. Ordinary least squares regression of logarithmic difference on average per capita income in 1980 and 2000 indicated conditional income convergence over the 20-year period. The estimated rate of income convergence was 3.82% per year. This convergence varied across the region based on the initial and changed conditions of population density, African-American population, employment, education, age structure, and travel time to work.