Does High Inequality Attract High Skilled Immigrants?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Gould, Eric D.; Moav, Omer
• 署名单位: Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; University of Warwick; Centre for Economic Policy Research - UK; University of Warwick
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1111/ecoj.12185
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 1055-1091
• 关键词: self-selection; UNITED-STATES; return migration; Mexico; wages; assimilation; patterns; earnings

摘要

This study examines how the sources and levels of income inequality affect how a country attracts and retains high skilled workers. With parameter values that yield realistic levels of emigration, our model shows that emigration rates increase with education when the returns to education are higher abroad. However, the relationship between unobservable skills (residual wages') and emigration can display an inverse U-shaped pattern, if unobservable skills are composed of both general' and country-specific' skills. Using data on Israeli emigrants before they decide to emigrate, we find strong empirical evidence in support of the model's predictions.