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Title: Migrants and the Making of America: The Short and Long-Run Effects of Immigration During the Age of Mass Migration

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2017

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Abstract: We study European immigration into the United States during the Age of Mass Migration (18501920), and estimate its long-term effects on economic prosperity. We exploit variation in the extent of immigration across counties arising from the interaction of fluctuations in aggregate immigrant inflows and the gradual expansion of the railway. We find that locations with more historical immigration today have higher incomes, less poverty, less unemployment, higher rates of urbanization, and greater educational attainment. The long-run effects appear to arise from the persistence of sizeable short-run benefits, including earlier and more intensive industrialization, increased agricultural productivity, and more innovation.

Url: http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/nunn/files/nunn_qian_sequeira_immigrants.pdf

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Authors: Nunn, Nathan; Qian, Nancy; Sequeira, Sandra

Publisher: Harvard University

Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Migration and Immigration

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