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on Economics of Human Migration |
| By: | Sandra Nieto (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona); Alessia Matano (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona); Raul Ramos (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | The objective of this paper is to analyse and explain the factors behind the observed differences in skill mismatches (vertical and horizontal) between natives and immigrants in EU countries. Using microdata from the 2007 wave of the Adult Education Survey (AES), different probit models are specified and estimated to analyse differences in the probability of each type of skill mismatch between natives and immigrants. Next, Yun’s decomposition method is used to identify the relative contribution of characteristics and returns to explain the differences between the two groups. Our analysis shows that immigrants are more likely to be skill mismatched than natives, being this difference much larger for vertical mismatch. In this case, the difference is higher for immigrants coming from non-EU countries than for those coming from other EU countries. We find that immigrants from non-EU countries are less valued in the EU labour markets than natives with similar characteristics, a result that is not observed for immigrants from EU countries. These results could be related to the limited transferability of the human capital acquired in non-EU countries. The findings suggest that specific programs to adapt immigrants’ human capital acquired in home country are required to reduce differences in the incidence of skill mismatch and a better integration in the EU labour markets. |
| Keywords: | Immigrant overeducation, vertical mismatch, horizontal mismatch, human capital transferability. JEL classification: |
| Date: | 2013–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aqr:wpaper:201310&r=mig |
| By: | Ernest Miguélez (Economics and Statistics Division, World Intellectual Property Organization & AQR-IREA & CReAM); Rosina Moreno (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which regions’ absorptive capacity determines knowledge flows’ impact on regional innovation intensity. In particular, it looks at the role of the cross-regional co-patenting and mobility of inventors in fostering innovation, and how regions with large absorptive capacity make the most of these two phenomena. The paper uses a panel of 274 regions over 8 years to estimate a regional knowledge production function with fixed-effects. Network and mobility variables, and interactions with regions’ absorptive capacity, are included among the r.h.s. variables to test the hypotheses. We find evidence of the role of both mobility and networks. However, inflows of inventors are critical for wealthier regions, while have more nuanced effects for less developed areas. It also shows that regions’ absorptive capacity critically adds an innovation premium to the benefits to tap into external knowledge pools. Indeed, the present study corroborates earlier work on the role of mobility and networks for spatial knowledge diffusion and subsequent innovation. However, it clearly illustrates that a certain level of technological development is critical to take advantage of these phenomena, and therefore “one-size-fits-all” innovation policies need to be reconsidered. |
| Keywords: | absorptive capacity, inventor mobility, spatial networks, patents, regional innovation. JEL classification: |
| Date: | 2013–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aqr:wpaper:201308&r=mig |
| By: | Nathan, Max (London School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | In recent years, the economics of migration literature has shown a substantial growth in papers exploring host country impacts beyond the labour market. Specifically, researchers have begun to shift their attention from labour market and fiscal changes, towards exploring what we might call ‘the wider effects of migration' on the production and consumption sides of the economy – and the role of high-skilled migrants in these processes. This paper surveys the emerging ‘wider impacts' literature, including studies from the US, European and other countries. It sets out some simple, non-technical frameworks, discusses the main empirical findings and identifies avenues for future research. |
| Keywords: | immigration, high-skill migrants, innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, productivity, cities |
| JEL: | G23 G24 J15 J61 L5 L26 M12 M13 O31 O32 R11 |
| Date: | 2013–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7653&r=mig |
| By: | Crawley, Heaven (Swansea University); Drinkwater, Stephen (Swansea University); Kauser, Rukhsana (University of Westminster) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines changes in public attitudes towards refugees across Britain over almost three decades using data from British Social Attitudes Surveys. It therefore covers the period when immigration as a whole has increased and the number of asylum applications reached their highest levels. The data are examined in periods before and after the rise in asylum applications and from a sub-national perspective because of possible differences in attitudes between areas, as well as in levels and types of inward migration. Overall, the British public appear to have become less tolerant towards refugees. This suggests that rising levels of immigration and asylum, a political discourse which positioned asylum as a particular problem in terms of the management of migration flows and accompanying press coverage have resulted in a hardening of opinions. These changes have occurred despite increased educational attainment amongst the British population, which might be expected to result in more liberal attitudes. The sub-national analysis indicates that people living in London and Scotland display the most tolerant views both before and after the increase in immigration and asylum. However, characteristics such as belonging to an ethnic minority group or possessing a degree, which are higher in London, account for a large portion of the regional variations. Controlling for such factors in regression analysis reduces the differentials relative to London, especially in more recent years. |
| Keywords: | public attitudes, regional variations, immigration, refugees |
| JEL: | F22 J15 R23 |
| Date: | 2013–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7647&r=mig |
| By: | Andrea Verdasco; UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre |
| Abstract: | This research sets out to understand the why, how and with whom of rural-urban internal migration of children to the Mozambique border town of Ressano Garcia. In doing so, it aims to address the overarching research question of how to strengthen child protection systems for unaccompanied migrant children. Research took place at the border town of Ressano Garcia and in the Mozambican capital city of Maputo, between July and September 2012. Following a thorough analysis of the qualitative data, engaging with the current debate on migration and child protection issues, this paper critically assesses the current interconnected ‘protective actors’ and protection mechanisms and provides recommendations. Under a qualitative child participatory approach, children and their views are placed at the centre of the research. Research participants also include protective actors that are the cornerstone of child protection mechanisms, including: civil society organizations (CSOs) in both Ressano Garcia and Maputo, and government officials at local, district, provincial and central level, thus allowing for a triangulation of sources. |
| Keywords: | child labour; child protection; migrant children; migration policy; mozambique; social policy; |
| JEL: | I3 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ucf:inwopa:inwopa705&r=mig |
| By: | Fleury, Nicolas |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses the differences in the determinants of the accumulation of human capital for second-generation immigrants relatively to natives for the French case. We use the Training and Occupational Skills survey to conduct our econometric analysis, where we distinguish the natives, the second-generation immigrants from ‘North Africa’ and from ‘Southern Europe’ origins. We don’t observe striking differences in the determinants between the second-generation immigrants as a whole and the natives. Moreover, the ‘second-generation immigrants’ group is a heterogeneous one. The significant determinants as well as the magnitude of the impact of these determinants substantially differ between the natives and the two main considered origins. There seems to be a lower ‘determinism’ through parental education for ‘Southern Europe’ than ‘North Africa’ origin, but differences in intergenerational correlations of education could be explained by parental transmission of education and/or by selection effects of the migrants. The Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition shows that parental endowments in education account for a large part of the mean outcome differences, but transmissions of education (and other components) also seems to be some relevant to explain differences in accumulation of human capital of second-generation migrants vs natives or between migrants. |
| Keywords: | accumulation of human capital, intergenerational mobility, immigrants |
| JEL: | J1 J24 J6 |
| Date: | 2013–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:50682&r=mig |
| By: | Alexis Antoniades; Ganesh Seshan; Roberto A. Weber; Robertas Zubrickas |
| Abstract: | We provide a direct test of the impact of altruism on remittances. From a sample of 105 male migrant workers from Kerala, India working in Qatar, we elicit the propensity to share with others from their responses in a dictator game, and use it as a proxy for altruism. When the entire sample is considered, we find that only migrants' income robustly explains remittances. Altruism does not seem to matter. However, we document a strong positive relationship between altruism and remittances for those migrants that report a loan obligation back home, which is nearly half the sample. We explain the role of loan obligations with a standard remittance model, extended with reference-dependent preferences. |
| Keywords: | Remittances, altruism, reference-dependent preferences, dictator game, Qatar |
| JEL: | O12 O15 D81 |
| Date: | 2013–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zur:econwp:131&r=mig |
| By: | Gottschalch, Sören |
| Abstract: | As it has rightfully been recognized by China's central government, successful urbanization will be decisive for the nation's future development. Key challenges will be to realize urbanization economies, improve production and innovation capabilities, direct urban and suburban growth and improve a more equal distribution of benefits of economic growth to the population. This paper contributes to the discussion with illuminating the main drivers of urbanization: (i) migration and (ii) in situ urbanization, and the housing necessities for migrants that evolve from them. It attempts to support the establishment of an integrated and sustainable urbanization path by considering migrants urban housing demand in China's socio economic transitional environment and indicating proper match. Migrant's housing choices are driven by underlying priorities determined by their characteristics and their exposure to the immediate socio economic environment. Therefore, both, migrant's characteristics as well as their immediate socio economic environment are put in relation to urban growth and its spatial features. The result is a set of housing supply forms and a set of distinctive migrant housing demands. Urban housing outcome and the match of housing supply and demand reveals housing preferences and housing market constraints. Based on these findings further housing recommendations can be given. -- |
| Keywords: | Urbanization,Migration,Urban Housing Situation,Migrant Groups,Housing Demand,Housing Program |
| JEL: | D03 D14 D40 D52 D63 H53 J61 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ipewps:272013&r=mig |
| By: | Jonas Minet Kinge; Tom Kornstad (Statistics Norway) |
| Abstract: | The wellbeing of children of immigrant mothers is of great concern worldwide. In this study, we investigate the relationship between infant mortality and maternal country of origin and whether or not this relationship varies with the number of years since maternal migration. We use an extensive dataset consisting of all births in Norway from 1992 to 2010 augmented by source country and other maternal characteristics. By measuring the source country infant mortality rate at the time the mother came to Norway, we are able to account for circumstances in the country the mother left behind. There are two main findings. Firstly, maternal source country characteristics are significantly associated with the infant mortality rate in Norway. Those with a maternal background from countries with a high infant mortality rate (e.g. countries in Africa and Asia) have a persistently higher infant mortality rate than those from countries with a low infant mortality rate (e.g. countries in Europe). Secondly, an assimilation process takes place, since the effect of maternal source country characteristics declines with the number of years since maternal migration. Hence, those with a nonnative maternal background have a higher infant mortality rate upon arrival, but the gap is eliminated after 20 years in Norway. The results cannot be explained by observable characteristics such as maternal age at birth, area of residence, maternal education or marital status. |
| Keywords: | Infant mortality; Immigration; Assimilation |
| JEL: | J15 J13 J18 I10 |
| Date: | 2013–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ssb:dispap:741&r=mig |
| By: | Lehmann, Etienne (CRED, Université Panthéon Assas Paris 2); Simula, Laurent (Uppsala University); Trannoy, Alain (EHESS, Paris) |
| Abstract: | We investigate how potential tax-driven migrations modify the Mirrlees income tax schedule when two countries play Nash. The social objective is the maximin and preferences are quasilinear in income. Individuals differ both in skills and migration costs, which are continuously distributed. We derive the optimal marginal income tax rates at the equilibrium, extending the Diamond-Saez formula. The theory and numerical simulations on the US case show that the level and the slope of the semi-elasticity of migration on which we lack empirical evidence are crucial to derive the shape of optimal marginal income tax. Our simulations show that potential migrations result in a welfare drop between 0.4% and 5.3% for the worst-off and an average gain between 18.9% and 29.3% for the top 1%. |
| Keywords: | optimal income tax, income tax competition, migration, labor mobility, Nash-equilibrium tax schedules |
| JEL: | D82 H21 H87 |
| Date: | 2013–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7646&r=mig |
| By: | Raul Ramos (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona); Jordi Suriñach (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | Due to ageing population and low birth rates, the European Union (EU) will need to import foreign labour in the next decades. In this context, the EU neighbouring countries (ENC) are the main countries of origin and transit of legal and illegal migration towards Europe. Their economic, cultural and historical links also make them an important potential source of labour force. The objective of this paper is to analyse past and future trends in ENC-EU bilateral migration relationships. With this aim, two different empirical analyses are carried out. First, we specify and estimate a gravity model for nearly 200 countries between 1960 and 2010; and, second, we focus on within EU-27 migration flows before and after the enlargement of the EU. Our results show a clear increase in migratory pressures from ENC to the EU in the near future, but South-South migration will also become more relevant. |
| Keywords: | absorptive capacity, inventor mobility, spatial networks, patents, regional innovation. JEL classification: |
| Date: | 2013–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aqr:wpaper:201309&r=mig |
| By: | Beine, M.; Bricongne,J-C.; Bourgeon, P. |
| Abstract: | Traditional theories of integration such as the optimum currency area approach attribute a prominent role to international labour mobility in coping with relative economic fluctuations between countries. However, recent studies on international migration have overlooked the role of short-run factors in explaining international migration flows. This paper aims to fill that gap. We first derive a model of optimal migration choice based on an extension of the traditional Random Utility Model. Our model predicts that an improvement in the economic activity in a potential destination country relative to any origin country may trigger some additional migration flows on top of the impact exerted by long-run factors such as the wage differential or the bilateral distance. Compiling a dataset with annual gross migration flows between 30 developed origin and destination countries over the 1980-2010 period, we empirically test the magnitude of the effect of short-run factors on bilateral flows. Our econometric results indicate that relative aggregate fluctuations and employment rates affect the intensity of bilateral migration flows. We also provide compelling evidence that the Schengen agreements and the introduction of the euro significantly raised the international mobility of workers between the member countries. |
| Keywords: | International Migration, Business cycles, OECD countries, Income Maximization. |
| JEL: | F22 O15 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bfr:banfra:453&r=mig |
| By: | d'Albis, Hippolyte; Boubtane, Ekrame; Coulibaly, Dramane |
| Abstract: | This paper proposes a quantitative assessment of the interaction between the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and the unemployment rate, and permanent immigration in France over the period 1994-2008. It uses a new database where immigration is measured by the flow of issuing residence permits of more than one year to foreigners. The flow is distinguished by age, sex and nationality of the migrant and depends on the reason for issuing the permit. Estimation of vector autoregression models (VAR) indicates that immigration increases GDP per capita, in particular, for female immigration and family immigration. In addition, family immigration from non-OECD countries reduces unemployment. Moreover, GDP per capita increases immigration while the unemployment rate reduces labor migration. |
| Keywords: | Immigration, Female and Family Migration, Growth, Unemployment, VAR Models |
| JEL: | F22 |
| Date: | 2013–10–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:50749&r=mig |