North American migration: returns to skill, border effects, and mobility costs

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Date
2004
Authors
Hunt, Gary L.
Mueller, Richard E.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MIT Press
Abstract
Utilizing a utility-maximizing, Roy-type, discrete choice model of worker location in Canadian provinces and U.S. states that incorporates returns to skill, amenities, fixed costs, distance, language, and border effects, we find that individuals with higher skills migrate to areas with higher returns and that the 49th parallel attenuates migration. Simulations indicate that equalizing returns in the two countries has a modest effect on cross-country migration; however, reductions in border effects tend to have large nonlinear effects on it. Our results confirm the qualitative results of previous research emphasizing the importance of returns to skill and border effects in migration decisions.
Description
Sherpa Romeo yellow journal: 12 mo embargo on publ version
Keywords
Migration , Migration decisions , Worker location , Border crossing , Mobility costs , Roy model , Skill level , Wage distribution
Citation
Hunt, G. L., & Mueller, R. E. (2004). North American migration: returns to skills, border effects, and mobility costs. Review of Economics and Statistics, 86(4), 988-1007. http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/0034653043125130
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