Full Citation

Title: Self-selection in Mexico-U.S. migration: The role of migration networks

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2007

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Abstract: The authors examine the role of migration networks in determining self-selection patterns of Mexico-U.S. migration. They first present a simple theoretical framework showing how such networks impact on migration incentives at different education levels and, consequently, how they are likely to affect the expected skill composition of migration. Using survey data from Mexico, the authors then show that the probability of migration is increasing with education in communities with low migrant networks, but decreasing with education in communities with high migrant networks. This is consistent with positive self-selection of migrants being driven by high migration costs, and with negative self-selection of migrants being driven by lower returns to education in the U.S. than in Mexico.

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Authors: McKenzie, David; Rapoport, Hillel

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Publication Number: 4118

Institution: World Bank Policy Research

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Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Education, Family and Marriage, Migration and Immigration, Race and Ethnicity

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