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Skilled migration and business cycle dynamics

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  • Smith, Christie
  • Thoenissen, Christoph

Abstract

Shocks to net migration matter for the business cycle. Using a structural vector autoregression and an estimated dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model of a small open economy, we find that migration shocks make an important contribution to the volatility of per capita GDP. Migration shocks contribute to variability in per capita consumption and investment, and to residential investment and real house prices. Despite the role of migration, other shocks remain more important drivers of these expenditure components and of housing market volatility. In the DSGE model, the level of human capital possessed by migrants relative to that of locals materially affects the business cycle impact of migration. The impact of migration shocks is larger when migrants have substantially different levels of human capital relative to locals. When the average migrant has more human capital than locals, as seems to be common for migrants into developed economies, a migration shock has an expansionary effect on per capita GDP and its components.

Suggested Citation

  • Smith, Christie & Thoenissen, Christoph, 2019. "Skilled migration and business cycle dynamics," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:109:y:2019:i:c:s0165188919301782
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2019.103781
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    7. Benjamín García & Juan Guerra-Salas, 2025. "On the Response of Inflation and Monetary Policy to an Immigration Shock," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 19(2), pages 383-433.
    8. Bandeira, Guilherme & Caballé, Jordi & Vella, Eugenia, 2022. "Emigration and fiscal austerity in a depression," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    9. Stefan Schiman, 2021. "Labor Supply Shocks and the Beveridge Curve: Empirical Evidence from EU Enlargement," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 40, pages 108-127, April.
    10. Argentiero, Amedeo & Cerqueti, Roy & Sabatini, Fabio, 2021. "Does social capital explain the Solow residual? A DSGE approach," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 35-53.
    11. Carmelo Pierpaolo Parello, 2021. "Free labor mobility and indeterminacy in models of neoclassical growth," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 133(1), pages 27-46, June.
    12. Olovsson, Conny & Walentin, Karl & Westermark, Andreas, 2025. "Dynamic macroeconomic implications of immigration," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    13. Ana María Tribín-Uribe & Achyuta Adhvaryu & Cesar Anzola-Bravo & Oscar Ávila-Montealegre & Leonardo Bonilla-Mejía & Juan Carlos Castro-Fernández & Luz A. Flórez & Ánderson Grajales-Olarte & Alexander , 2020. "Migración desde Venezuela en Colombia: caracterización del fenómeno y análisis de los efectos macroeconómicos," Revista ESPE - Ensayos sobre Política Económica, Banco de la Republica de Colombia, issue 97, pages 1-74, October.
    14. Guilherme Bandeira & Jordi Caballe & Eugenia Vella, 2020. "Emigration and Fiscal Austerity in a Depression," DEOS Working Papers 2035, Athens University of Economics and Business.
    15. Franz Hamann & Cesar Anzola & Oscar Avila-Montealegre & Juan Carlos Castro-Fernandez & Anderson Grajales-Olarte & Alexander Guarín & Juan C Mendez-Vizcaino & Juan J. Ospina-Tejeiro & Mario A. Ramos-Ve, 2021. "Monetary Policy Response to a Migration Shock: An Analysis for a Small Open Economy," Borradores de Economia 1153, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    16. Meilinda Trisilia & Susilo & Devanto Shasta Pratomo & M. Pudjihardjo, 2024. "Characteristics of Migrant Workers and Economic Growth: An Interregional Migration in Indonesia," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 98-111.
    17. Jaroensathapornkul, Jirawat, 2020. "Impacts of Technological Shock on the Agricultural Business Cycle," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 54(1), pages 1-17.
    18. Kohler, Wilhelm & Müller, Gernot J. & Wellmann, Susanne, 2023. "Risk sharing in currency unions: The migration channel," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • F44 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Business Cycles

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