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Gravity models: A tool for migration analysis

Author

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  • Raul Ramos

    (University of Barcelona, Spain, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

Gravity models have long been popular for analyzing economic phenomena related to the movement of goods and services, capital, or even people; however, data limitations regarding migration flows have hindered their use in this context. With access to improved bilateral (country to country) data, researchers can now use gravity models to better assess the impacts of migration policy, for instance, the effects of visa restriction policies on migration flows. The specification, estimation, and interpretation of gravity models are illustrated in different contexts and limitations of current practices are described to enable policymakers to make better informed decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Raul Ramos, 2016. "Gravity models: A tool for migration analysis," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 239-239, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2016:n:239
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Diego A. Martin & Jose Ramon Morales Arilla & Alvaro Morales, 2024. "Escaping from hardship, searching for comfort: Climate matching in refugees’ destination choices," Growth Lab Working Papers 237, Harvard's Growth Lab.
    9. Alessandra Conte & Silvia Migali, 2019. "The role of conflict and organized violence in international forced migration," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 41(14), pages 393-424.
    10. Michael P. Cameron, 2017. "Climate Change, Internal Migration and the Future Spatial Distribution of Population: A Case Study of New Zealand," Working Papers in Economics 17/03, University of Waikato.
    11. Ivana Drazenovic & Marina Kunovac & Dominik Pripuzic, 2018. "Dynamics and determinants of emigration: the case of Croatia and the experience of new EU member states," Public Sector Economics, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 42(4), pages 415-447.
    12. Antea Barišić & Mahdi Ghodsi & Michael Landesmann, 2024. "Technological Push and Pull Factors of Bilateral Migration," wiiw Working Papers 242, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    13. Anupam Nanda & Olayiwola Oladiran, 2022. "Examining regional asymmetries in drivers of international migration flows," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 90(6), pages 648-667, December.
    14. Mabel Sanchez-Barrioluengo & Sara Flisi, 2017. "Student Mobility in Tertiary Education: institutional factors and regional attractiveness," JRC Research Reports JRC108895, Joint Research Centre.
    15. Long Thanh Giang & Cuong Viet Nguyen & Hoa Quynh Nguyen, 2020. "The Impacts of Economic Growth and Governance on Migration: Evidence from Vietnam," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(4), pages 1195-1229, September.
    16. Robert M. Beyer & Jacob Schewe & Hermann Lotze-Campen, 2022. "Gravity models do not explain, and cannot predict, international migration dynamics," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    17. Arkadiusz Manikowski, 2021. "The Markov Process as a Model of Migration Based on the Example of the Movement of Banknotes (Proces Markowa jako model migracji na przykladzie przemieszczania sie banknotow)," Research Reports, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(35), pages 76-92.
    18. Guo, Rufei & Zhang, Junsen & Zhou, Minghai, 2024. "The demography of the great migration in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    19. Eldridge Moses, 2020. "Long and short-distance internal migration motivations in post-apartheid Namibia: a gravity model approach," Working Papers 11/2020, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    20. Dinçer Dedeoğlu & H. Deniz Genç, 2017. "Turkish migration to Europe: a modified gravity model analysis," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 7(1), pages 1-19, December.
    21. Chiara Zanardello, 2023. "Market forces in Italian academia today (and yesterday)," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(1), pages 651-698, January.
    22. Keisuke Kondo, 2023. "Measuring the Attractiveness of Trip Destinations: A Study of the Kansai Region of Japan," Discussion Paper Series DP2023-07, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University, revised Apr 2024.
    23. Hicham Ganga & Javier Alonso & Vincenzo Spiezia & Jan Tscheke, 2018. "Patterns of domestic and cross-border e-commerce in Spain: A gravitational model approach," Working Papers 18/18, BBVA Bank, Economic Research Department.
    24. Cirlene Maria de Matos & Eduardo Gonçalves & Ricardo da Silva Freguglia, 2021. "Knowledge diffusion channels in Brazil: The effect of inventor mobility and inventive collaboration on regional invention," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 909-932, June.
    25. María Gutiérrez-Portilla & Adolfo Maza & María Hierro, 2018. "Foreigners versus natives in Spain: different migration patterns? Any changes in the aftermath of the crisis?," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 61(1), pages 139-159, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gravity models; international migration; migration determinants; migration policies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods

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