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A Global View of Cross-Border Migration

Author

Listed:
  • Julian di Giovanni

    (International Monetary Fund and University of Toronto)

  • Andrei A. Levchenko

    (University of Michigan and NBER)

  • Francesc Ortega

    (Queens College - CUNY)

Abstract

This paper evaluates the welfare impact of observed levels of migration and remittances in both origins and destinations, using a quantitative multi-sector model of the global economy calibrated to aggregate and firm-level data on 60 developed and developing countries. Our framework accounts jointly for origin and destination characteristics, as well as the inherently multi-country nature of both migration and other forms of integration, such as international trade and remittance flows. In the presence of firm heterogeneity and imperfect competition larger countries enjoy a greater number of varieties and thus higher welfare, all else equal. Because of this effect, natives in countries that received a lot of migration -- such as Canada or Australia -- are better off. The remaining natives in countries with large emigration flows -- such as Jamaica or El Salvador -- are also better off due to migration, but for a different reason: remittances. The quantitative results show that the welfare impact of observed levels of migration is substantial, at about 5 to 10% for the main receiving countries and about 10% for the main sending countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian di Giovanni & Andrei A. Levchenko & Francesc Ortega, 2012. "A Global View of Cross-Border Migration," Working Papers 627, Research Seminar in International Economics, University of Michigan.
  • Handle: RePEc:mie:wpaper:627
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Migration; Remittances; International Trade; Welfare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances

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