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Temporary Emigration And Welfare: The Case Of Low‐Skilled Labor

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  • Slobodan Djajić

Abstract

This article studies the implications of temporary emigration for the welfare of a source country. The framework is one of general equilibrium, where the economy's stocks of both capital and labor are endogenously determined by the saving and migration decisions of optimizing agents. Simulations of the model suggest that for realistic values of the parameters, welfare of nonmigrants of the source country is maximized when the migrants are employed abroad for a period in the range of roughly 8–12 years. The ideal duration is found to be an increasing function of the international wage differential, migration costs, and the degree to which the rights of migrants are protected in the host country.

Suggested Citation

  • Slobodan Djajić, 2014. "Temporary Emigration And Welfare: The Case Of Low‐Skilled Labor," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 55(2), pages 551-574, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:55:y:2014:i:2:p:551-574
    DOI: 10.1111/iere.12061
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    References listed on IDEAS

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