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Migration on the Rise, a Paradigm in Decline: The Last Half-Century of Global Mobility

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  • Michael A. Clemens

Abstract

The past several decades have witnessed a rebirth of global labor mobility. Workers are moving between countries at rates not seen since before World War I. During the same period, economists' study of international migration has been framed by a particular textbook model of location choice. This paper reviews the evidence on the economic causes and effects of global migration during the past half century. That evidence falsifies most of the core predictions of the old model. The economics of migration will regain vitality and relevance by discarding and replacing its outworn paradigm.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael A. Clemens, 2022. "Migration on the Rise, a Paradigm in Decline: The Last Half-Century of Global Mobility," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 112, pages 257-261, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:112:y:2022:p:257-61
    DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20221050
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    Cited by:

    1. Lisa Marie Timm & Massimo Giuliodori & Paul Muller, 2025. "Tax Incentives for Migrants with Mid-level Earnings: Evidence from the Netherlands," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 17(3), pages 42-79, July.
    2. Braulio Britos & Manuel Hernandez & Danilo Trupkin, 2025. "From farms to borders: Agricultural distortions and international migration," Working Papers 174, Universidad de San Andres, Departamento de Economia, revised Dec 2025.
    3. Timm, Lisa Marie & Giuliodori, Massimo & Muller, Paul, 2022. "Tax Incentives for High Skilled Migrants: Evidence from a Preferential Tax Scheme in the Netherlands," IZA Discussion Papers 15582, IZA Network @ LISER.
    4. Eva Dziadula & John O’Hare & Carl Colglazier & Marie C. Clay & Paul Brenner, 2023. "Modeling economic migration on a global scale," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1125-1145, October.
    5. Fuchs, Andreas & Gröger, André & Heidland, Tobias & Wellner, Lukas, 2023. "The effect of foreign aid on migration: Global micro evidence from world bank projects," Kiel Working Papers 2257, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
    6. Gutmann, Jerg & Marchal, Léa & Simsek, Betül, 2025. "Women’s rights and the gender migration gap," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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