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Migration, education, technological change and growing urban inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Oudom Hean

    (North Dakota State University
    Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth)

  • Nattanicha Chairassamee

    (Kasetsart University)

  • Mark D. Partridge

    (Ohio State University
    Jinan University
    Gran Sasso Science Institute)

Abstract

The economic literature has been silent on two key channels regarding how innovation affects labor supply: skilled-worker migration and “local production” of college graduates. Through these two channels, innovation influences wage divergence, skill levels, and productivity across urban areas. Using patents to proxy for regional innovation, we find that from 2005 to 2015, local college-graduate production plays a greater role in explaining US skill divergence across urban counties. Our findings suggest that local governments should focus on investing in greater local capacity for developing innovations and increasing their local higher-education capacity. Conversely, efforts to attract highly-educated workers from elsewhere should be relatively de-emphasized.

Suggested Citation

  • Oudom Hean & Nattanicha Chairassamee & Mark D. Partridge, 2024. "Migration, education, technological change and growing urban inequality," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 72(2), pages 435-472, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:anresc:v:72:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s00168-023-01207-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s00168-023-01207-4
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • 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

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