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The Age of Mass Migration: Economic and Institutional Determinants

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  • Bertocchi, Graziella
  • Strozzi, Chiara

Abstract

We study the determinants of 19th century mass migration with special attention to the role of institutional factors beside standard economic fundamentals. We find that economic forces associated with income and demographic differentials had a major role in the determination of this historical event, but that the quality of institutions also mattered. We evaluate separately the impact of political institutions linked to democracy and suffrage and of those institutions more specifically targeted at attracting migrants, i.e., citizenship acquisition, land distribution, and public education policies. We find that both sets of institutions contributed to this event, even after controlling for their potential endogeneity through a set of instruments exploiting colonial history and the quality of institutions inherited from the past.

Suggested Citation

  • Bertocchi, Graziella & Strozzi, Chiara, 2007. "The Age of Mass Migration: Economic and Institutional Determinants," CEPR Discussion Papers 6050, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:6050
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    Cited by:

    1. Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & von Berlepsch, Viola, 2020. "Migration-prone and migration-averse places. Path dependence in long-term migration to the US," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103973, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Von Berlepsch, Viola, 2017. "Does population diversity matter for economic development in the very long-term? Historic migration, diversity and county wealt," CEPR Discussion Papers 12347, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Marina Murat & Barbara Pistoresi, 2009. "Migrant Networks: Empirical Implications for the Italian Bilateral Trade," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 371-390.
    4. Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Von Berlepsch, Viola, 2012. "When migrants rule: the legacy of mass migration on economic development in the US," CEPR Discussion Papers 9122, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Graziella Bertocchi & Chiara Strozzi, 2010. "The Evolution of Citizenship: Economic and Institutional Determinants," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 53(1), pages 95-136, February.
    6. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Viola von Berlepsch, 2015. "European Migration, National Origin and Long-term Economic Development in the United States," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 91(4), pages 393-424, October.
    7. Otrachshenko, Vladimir & Popova, Olga, 2014. "Life (dis)satisfaction and the intention to migrate: Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 40-49.
    8. Fakih, Ali & El Baba, Malak, 2023. "The Decision to Emigrate in Six MENA Countries: The Role of Post-Revolutionary Stress," IZA Discussion Papers 15933, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Viola Berlepsch, 2019. "Does Population Diversity Matter for Economic Development in the Very Long Term? Historic Migration, Diversity and County Wealth in the US," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(5), pages 873-911, December.
    10. Marina Murat & Barbara Pistoresi & Alberto Rinaldi, 2008. "Italian Diaspora and Foreign Direct Investment: A Cliometric Perspective," Center for Economic Research (RECent) 013, University of Modena and Reggio E., Dept. of Economics "Marco Biagi".

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    19th century international migration; Colonial history; Democracy; Institutions; Migration policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F54 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Colonialism; Imperialism; Postcolonialism
    • K40 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - General
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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