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The relationship between schooling and migration: Evidence from compulsory schooling laws

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Listed author(s):
  • McHenry, Peter

Abstract

I estimate the effect of schooling on the propensity to migrate by exploiting variation in schooling due to compulsory schooling laws (CSLs) in the United States. I obtain negative estimates of this effect among those with relatively little schooling. In contrast, previous research estimates positive schooling effects on migration at higher levels of schooling. I speculate that additional schooling at low levels enhances local labor market contacts and thereby increases the opportunity cost of migration (leaving those contacts behind).

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File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272775713000460
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Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Economics of Education Review.

Volume (Year): 35 (2013)
Issue (Month): C ()
Pages: 24-40

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Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:35:y:2013:i:c:p:24-40
DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2013.03.003
Contact details of provider: Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/econedurev

Keywords: Migration; Education; Compulsory schooling law;

Find related papers by JEL classification:

  • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
  • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
  • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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Cited by:

  1. Haapanen, Mika & Böckerman, Petri, 2013. "Does Higher Education Enhance Migration?," IZA Discussion Papers 7754, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
  2. Ainhoa Aparicio Fenoll & Zoe Kuehn, 2016. "Education Policies and Migration across European Countries," CHILD Working Papers Series 42 JEL Classification: J6, Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics (CHILD) - CCA.
  3. Peter McHenry, 2014. "The Geographic Distribution Of Human Capital: Measurement Of Contributing Mechanisms," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2), pages 215-248, 03.
  4. Sansani, Shahar, 2015. "The differential impact of compulsory schooling laws on school quality in the United States segregated South," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 64-75.
  5. Winters, John V., 2014. "The Production and Stock of College Graduates for U.S. States," IZA Discussion Papers 8730, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).

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