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Migration, unemployment, and skill downgrading : a specific-factors approach

Author

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  • Vallizadeh, Ehsan

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany)

  • Muysken, Joan

    (Maastricht University)

  • Ziesemer, Thomas

Abstract

"This paper analyzes the impact of the skill composition of migration flows on the host country's labor market in a specific factors two-sector model with heterogeneous labor (low-, medium-, and highly-skilled) and price- and wage-setting behavior. The low- and medium-skilled labor markets are characterized by frictions due to wage bargaining. Moreover, we assume skill downgrading of unemployed medium-skilled workers into low-skilled labor supply. Endogenous benefits create an interdependency between the two bargaining processes. Particular attention is paid to medium-skilled migration, which enables us to contribute to the literature by replicating important stylized facts regarding medium skills, such as i) the interaction between immigration, low-skilled unemployment, and mediumskill downgrading, ii) the increase in low skill intensive service jobs. The model is calibrated using data for Germany. The key findings are: (i) a migration-induced supply shock of medium skilled workers decreases the low-skilled unemployment rate under endogenous benefits; (ii) migration of only medium skilled labor has a neutral impact on GDP per capita; (iii) immigration of medium skilled labor together with some high skilled labor has a positive effect on output per capita." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Suggested Citation

  • Vallizadeh, Ehsan & Muysken, Joan & Ziesemer, Thomas, 2013. "Migration, unemployment, and skill downgrading : a specific-factors approach," IAB-Discussion Paper 201313, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    • Handle: RePEc:iab:iabdpa:201313
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bundesrepublik Deutschland ; Auswirkungen ; Beschäftigungseffekte ; Dequalifizierung ; Einkommenseffekte ; Einwanderer ; Einwanderung ; Inländer ; institutionelle Faktoren ; mittlere Qualifikation ; Niedrigqualifizierte ; Qualifikationsstruktur ; Arbeitskräfteangebot ; Arbeitslosenquote ; Arbeitslosenunterstützung ; unterwertige Beschäftigung ; 2005-2005;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J52 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Dispute Resolution: Strikes, Arbitration, and Mediation
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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