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International family migration and the dual-earner model
[On the origin of gender roles: women and the plough]

Author

Listed:
  • Martin D Munk
  • Till Nikolka
  • Panu Poutvaara

Abstract

We analyze couples’ joint decisions about emigration and labor force participation using survey data on Danish emigrants, combined with full population administrative data. Couples are most likely to emigrate if the male partner or both partners hold a college degree and least likely to emigrate if neither of the partners is college educated. Probability that a dual-earner couple emigrates increases with the primary earner’s income. In most couples, both partners work before emigration, while after migrating outside the Nordic countries almost half of the women stay at home. Survey responses reveal that men mainly migrate for work reasons and women for family reasons. Our findings suggest that the dual-earner model may not be strongly ingrained among emigrating couples. Instead, female labor force participation abroad varies widely between different destinations.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin D Munk & Till Nikolka & Panu Poutvaara, 2022. "International family migration and the dual-earner model [On the origin of gender roles: women and the plough]," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 22(2), pages 263-287.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jecgeo:v:22:y:2022:i:2:p:263-287.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeg/lbab050
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Toman Barsbai & Andreas Steinmayr & Christoph Winter, 2022. "Immigrating into a Recession: Evidence from Family Migrants to the U.S," Working Papers 2022-01, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
    2. Gutmann, Jerg & Marchal, Léa & Simsek, Betül, 2025. "Women’s rights and the gender migration gap," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    3. Amrita Kulka & Till Nikolka & Panu Poutvaaraifo & Silke Uebelmesser, 2025. "International applicability of education and migration aspirations," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(1), pages 127-147.
    4. Ilpo Kauppinen & Till Nikolka & Panu Poutvaara, 2020. "Self-selection and Motivations of Emigrants from a Welfare State," EconPol Policy Reports 19, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    5. Ilpo Kauppinen & Panu Poutvaara, 2019. "Preferences for Redistribution and International Migration," ifo Working Paper Series 283, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    6. Matthias Huber & Till Nikolka & Panu Poutvaara & Ann-Marie Sommerfeld & Silke Uebelmesser, 2022. "Migration Aspirations and Intentions," CESifo Working Paper Series 9708, CESifo.
    7. Ilpo Kauppinen & Panu Poutvaara, 2025. "Decomposing Migrant Self-Selection: Education, Occupation, and Unobserved Abilities," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 78(1), pages 86-112, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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