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Emigration and Democracy

Author

Listed:
  • Docquier, Frédéric

    () (Université catholique de Louvain)

  • Lodigiani, Elisabetta

    () (University of Padova)

  • Rapoport, Hillel

    () (Paris School of Economics)

  • Schiff, Maurice

    () (World Bank)

Abstract

Migration is an important and yet neglected determinant of institutions. The paper documents the channels through which emigration affects home country institutions and considers dynamic-panel regressions for a large sample of developing countries. We find that emigration and human capital both increase democracy and economic freedom. This implies that unskilled (skilled) emigration has a positive (ambiguous) impact on institutional quality. Simulations show an impact of skilled emigration that is generally positive, significant for a few countries in the short run and for many countries in the long run once incentive effects of emigration on human capital formation are accounted for.

Suggested Citation

  • Docquier, Frédéric & Lodigiani, Elisabetta & Rapoport, Hillel & Schiff, Maurice, 2011. "Emigration and Democracy," IZA Discussion Papers 5496, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp5496
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    Keywords

    institutions; democracy; diaspora effects; migration; brain drain;

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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