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Homesickness and repeated migration

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  • Kayuna Nakajima

Abstract

This paper presents a dynamic structural model of migration that is designed to help explain the migration behaviour of undocumented Mexican immigrants in the US. Its key feature – which I call ‘homesickness’ – is a duration-dependent disutility from living abroad that keeps increasing while a migrant stays abroad and can be reset to zero only by returning to their home country. I estimate the model using data primarily from the Mexican Migration Project Survey and find that the model is capable of explaining, among other things, the fact that: (i) a non-negligible number of Mexican immigrants in the US return home after earning very little; (ii) these ‘unsuccessful’ immigrants are more likely to re-enter the US at a later date; and (iii) such ‘unsuccessful’ returns are more prevalent among immigrants who left their wives behind in Mexico. These facts are not easily reconciled with existing models of migration that do not feature homesickness.

Suggested Citation

  • Kayuna Nakajima, 2019. "Homesickness and repeated migration," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(32), pages 3451-3464, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:51:y:2019:i:32:p:3451-3464
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2019.1581908
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    Cited by:

    1. Lessem, Rebecca & Nakajima, Kayuna, 2019. "Immigrant wages and recessions: Evidence from undocumented Mexicans," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 92-115.
    2. Al Husein, N. & Wagner, N., 2020. "Determinants of intended return migration among refugees : A comparison of Syrian refugees in Germany and Turkey," ISS Working Papers - General Series 127798, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.

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