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Educational selectivity of internal migrants: A global assessment

Author

Listed:
  • Aude Bernard

    (University of Queensland)

  • Martin Bell

    (University of Queensland)

Abstract

Background: It is well established that migrants are a selected group with respect to a number of characteristics, including education. However, the extent to which the degree of educational selectivity varies between countries remains unclear. Objective: We assess the educational selectivity of internal migrants for a global sample of 56 countries that represent over 65% of the world population. Methods: We fit binomial logistic regression to individual-level census data drawn from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series-International (IPUMS). For each country, we regress migration against educational attainment and include a set of individual-level control variables and urban status of current place of residence. We report results for individual countries and estimate global and regional population-weighted means. Results: Globally, compared to individuals with no formal education, those with primary education are 1.7 times more likely to move, those with secondary education 2.9 times, and those with tertiary education 4.2 times. Once control variables are added, the effect of education decreases to 1.1, 1.2, and 2.3 times for primary, secondary, and tertiary education respectively. In all countries but Haiti tertiary education has a positive, statistically significant impact on migration, and in 80% of countries both secondary and tertiary education significantly increase the odds of migrating. Conclusions: The results lend unequivocal support to the hypothesis that the likelihood to move increases with educational attainment while revealing significant variations between and within regions. Contribution: This study has uncovered a near universal empirical regularity in the effect of education on migration while revealing limited educational selectivity in Latin America. Variations in the degree of educational selectivity indicate that the effect of education on migration decision is subtle, varied, and specific to the national context and is not a function of the level of human development as originally anticipated.

Suggested Citation

  • Aude Bernard & Martin Bell, 2018. "Educational selectivity of internal migrants: A global assessment," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 39(29), pages 835-854.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:39:y:2018:i:29
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2018.39.29
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Maximiliano Alvarez & Vicente Royuela, 2022. "The effect of labor‐market differentials on interregional migration in Spain: A meta‐regression analysis," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(4), pages 913-937, September.
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    11. Jorge González Chapela & Sergi Jiménez-Martín & Judit Vall Castello, 2023. "Education and internal migration: evidence from a child labor reform in Spain," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 14(2), pages 143-164, June.
    12. Jeena P.M. & Afnitha P, 2025. "Educational Migration from Kerala: An Empirical Study of Student Mobility for Higher Education," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(15), pages 1050-1057, August.
    13. Rawaa Laajimi & Julie Le Gallo, 2022. "Push and pull factors in Tunisian internal migration: The role of human capital," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(2), pages 771-799, June.
    14. Emmanuel Nshakira-Rukundo & Essa Chanie Mussa & Nathan Nshakira & Nicolas Gerber & Joachim von Braun, 2021. "Impact of community-based health insurance on utilisation of preventive health services in rural Uganda: a propensity score matching approach," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 203-227, June.
    15. Jun Wen & Sylvia JT Jansen & Harry van der Heijden & Peter J Boelhouwer, 2025. "Migration across the urban hierarchy: Has China’s urbanisation transitioned from the primate city stage to the secondary city stage?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 62(4), pages 665-681, March.
    16. Victor Iturra & Mauricio Sarrias, 2025. "Happy Where You Are? Exploring Migration Intentions and Subjective Well-being Through a Discrete Choice Experiment," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 26(6), pages 1-23, August.
    17. Nazareno Panichella & Stefano Cantalini, 2023. "Is Geographical Mobility Beneficial? The Impact of the South-to-North Internal Migration on Occupational Achievement in Italy," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(5), pages 1-22, October.
    18. Philip Rees, 2018. "Education and demography: a review of world population and human capital in the 21st century," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 16(1), pages 037-053.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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