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South-South Migration and the Labor Market: Evidence from South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanni Facchini

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Milan, CEPR, CES-Ifo, CReAM, IZA and LdA)

  • Anna Maria Mayda

    (Georgetown University, Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, CEPR and IZA)

  • Mariapia Mendola

    (University of Milan Bicocca and Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano)

Abstract

Using census data for 1996, 2001 and 2007 we study the labor market effect of immigration in South Africa. In this period the share of foreign born over the total population has grown by almost fifty percent, and both the characteristics and geographical distribution of immigrants show substantial variation over time. We exploit these features of the data to carry out an analysis that combines both the spatial correlation approach pioneered by Card (1990) and the variation across schooling and experience groups used by Borjas (2003). We estimate that increased immigration has a negative effect on natives' employment outcomes, but not on total income. Furthermore, we find that skilled South Africans appear to be the most negatively affected subgroup of the population.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Facchini & Anna Maria Mayda & Mariapia Mendola, 2012. "South-South Migration and the Labor Market: Evidence from South Africa," Development Working Papers 331, Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, University of Milano, revised 27 Mar 2012.
    • Handle: RePEc:csl:devewp:331
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Genicot, Garance & Mayda, Anna Maria & Mendola, Mariapia, 2016. "The Impact of Migration on Child Labor: Theory and Evidence from Brazil," IZA Discussion Papers 10444, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Michael Clemens, 2013. "The Effect of Foreign Labor on Native Employment: A Job-Specific Approach and Application to North Carolina Farms- Working Paper 326," Working Papers 326, Center for Global Development.
    3. Sergei Guriev & Biagio Speciale & Michele Tuccio, 2019. "How do Regulated and Unregulated Labor Markets Respond to Shocks? Evidence from Immigrants During the Great Recession," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 35(1), pages 37-76.
    4. Chletsos, Michael & Roupakias, Stelios, 2019. "Immigration and the economic performance of countries," MPRA Paper 94994, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Shingo Takahashi & Ana Maria Takahashi, 2022. "Does economic self-interest determine public attitudes toward immigrants? An econometric case study in Japan," Discussion Papers 2201, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University.
    6. Nedoncelle, Clément & Marchal, Léa & Aubry, Amandine & Héricourt, Jérôme, 2024. "Does immigration affect native wages? A meta-analysis," KCG Working Papers 31, Kiel Centre for Globalization (KCG).
    7. Alexandra Doyle & Amos C Peters & Asha Sundaram, 2014. "Skills mismatch and informal sector participation among educated immigrants: Evidence from South Africa," SALDRU Working Papers 137, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    8. Nyagweta, David Tinashe, 2020. "Labour immigration, per capita income growth, and unemployment in post-apartheid South Africa," MPRA Paper 105421, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/73bviabv8o80nrgh0mm5h3163q is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Stuhler, Jan & Jaeger, David & Ruist, Joakim, 2018. "Shift-Share Instruments and the Impact of Immigration," CEPR Discussion Papers 12701, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    11. Marcus H. Böhme & Sarah Kups, 2017. "The economic effects of labour immigration in developing countries: A literature review," OECD Development Centre Working Papers 335, OECD Publishing.
    12. Ferrant, Gaëlle & Tuccio, Michele, 2015. "South–South Migration and Discrimination Against Women in Social Institutions: A Two-way Relationship," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 240-254.
    13. A. Ncube & Yonas T. Bahta & A. J. Jordaan, 2020. "Job Market Perceptions of African Migrant Women in South Africa as an Initial and Long-Term Coping and Adaptation Mechanism," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1165-1185, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Immigration; Labor market effects; South Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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