Self-Selection Patterns in Mexico-U.S. Migration: The Role of Migration Networks

• Tác giả: David McKenzie
• Ngôn ngữ: eng
• Ký hiệu phân loại: 331.62 Immigrants and aliens
• Thông tin xuất bản: 2012
• Bộ sưu tập: Tài liệu truy cập mở
• ID: 322831
• Chủ đề: 1. Analysis of Education I210; 2. Human Capital; 3. Labor Productivity J240; 4. Occupational Choice; 5. Skills

Tóm tắt

This paper examines the role of migration networks in determining self-selection patterns of Mexico-U.S. migration. A simple theoretical framework shows the impact of networks on migration incentives at different education levels and how this affects the composition of migrant skills. Empirically, we find positive or education-neutral selection in communities with weak migrant networks but negative self-selection in communities with stronger networks. This is consistent with high migration costs driving positive or intermediate self-selection, as advocated by Chiquiar and Hanson (2005), and with negative self-selection being driven by lower returns to education in the United States than in Mexico, as advocated by Borjas (1987).