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Migration on the Rise, a Paradigm in Decline: The Last Half-Century of Global Mobility

Author

Listed:
  • Michael A. Clemens

    (Center for Global Development
    IZA
    CReAM)

Abstract

The past several decades have witnessed a rebirth of global labor mobility. Workers have begun to move between countries at rates not seen since before World War One. During the same period, economists’ study of international migration has been framed by a particular textbook model of location choice. This paper reviews the evidence on the economic causes and effects of global migration during the past half century. That evidence falsifies most of the core predictions of the old model. The economics of migration will regain vitality and relevance by discarding and replacing its outworn paradigm.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael A. Clemens, 2022. "Migration on the Rise, a Paradigm in Decline: The Last Half-Century of Global Mobility," Working Papers 606, Center for Global Development.
    • Handle: RePEc:cgd:wpaper:606
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    Cited by:

    1. Gutmann, Jerg & Marchal, Léa & Simsek, Betül, 2025. "Women’s rights and the gender migration gap," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    2. Lisa Marie Timm & Massimo Giuliodori & Paul Muller, 2022. "Tax incentives for high skilled migrants: evidence from a preferential tax scheme in the Netherlands," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-068/V, Tinbergen Institute.
    3. Fuchs, Andreas & Gröger, André & Heidland, Tobias & Wellner, Lukas, 2023. "The effect of foreign aid on migration: Global micro evidence from world bank projects," Kiel Working Papers 2257, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    4. Lisa Marie Timm & Massimo Giuliodori & Paul Muller, 2025. "Tax Incentives for Migrants with Mid-level Earnings: Evidence from the Netherlands," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 17(3), pages 42-79, July.
    5. Eva Dziadula & John O’Hare & Carl Colglazier & Marie C. Clay & Paul Brenner, 2023. "Modeling economic migration on a global scale," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1125-1145, October.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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