User:LevyWalker/sandbox

The Axiom of Cumulative Inertia is a sociological phenomenon rooted in observations of human migratory patterns. Introduced in 1966 by Myers, McGinnis and Masnick, the most widely known form of the axiom is encapsulated by the statement: "'The probability of remaining in any state of nature increases as a strict monotone function of duration of prior residence in that state.'" There is thus a clear negative correlation between the amount of time a person has lived in a certain location, and the likelihood they will move in future. Suggested reasons for this change include loss aversion (resulting from possible unknown problems in the further place of residence), financial stability linked to a certain place of employment or the presence of an extended social network in the form of familial and other obligations. The large amount of factors which affect human migratory patterns make it difficult to assess the exact degree of impact of the various postulated variables, and debate also exists as to the appropriate relation between residence time and likelihood of moving.