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On the nexus between innovation, productivity and migration of US university graduates

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  • Pantelis Kazakis

Abstract

This paper studies the link between the migration of US university graduates, innovation and productivity. Using migration flows extracted from the SESTAT database and following a simultaneous equation approach, it finds that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between the migration flows of skilled economic agents and innovation (and productivity). Higher taxation and housing prices act as a decelerating force to migration. The role of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates, potential investors and entrepreneurial education appear to play a salient role in regional innovation. The results are robust to various implementations, including the use of the instrumental variables approach.

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  • Pantelis Kazakis, 2019. "On the nexus between innovation, productivity and migration of US university graduates," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 465-485, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:specan:v:14:y:2019:i:4:p:465-485
    DOI: 10.1080/17421772.2019.1636127
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