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Medical Worker Migration and Origin-Country Human Capital: Evidence from U.S. Visa Policy

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  • Paolo Abarcar

    (Mathematica)

  • Caroline Theoharides

    (Amherst College)

Abstract

We exploit changes in U.S. visa policies for nurses to measure the origin-country human capital response to international migration opportunities. Combining data on all migrant departures and postsecondary institutions in the Philippines, we show that nursing enrollment and graduation increased substantially in response to greater U.S. demand for nurses. The supply of nursing programs expanded. Nurse quality, measured by licensure exam pass rates, declined. Despite this, for each nurse migrant, nine additional nurses were licensed. New nurses switched from other degree types but graduated at higher rates than they would have otherwise, increasing the human capital stock in the Philippines.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Abarcar & Caroline Theoharides, 2024. "Medical Worker Migration and Origin-Country Human Capital: Evidence from U.S. Visa Policy," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 106(1), pages 20-35, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:106:y:2024:i:1:p:20-35
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01131
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    Cited by:

    1. Catia Batista & David Costa & Pedro Freitas & Goncalo Lima & Ana Reis, 2024. "What Matters for the Decision to Study Abroad? A Lab-in-the-Field Experiment in Cape Verde," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2413, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    2. Michel Beine & Vincent Fromentin & Javier Sánchez Bachiller, 2024. "Emigration Prospects and Educational Choices: Evidence from the Lorraine-Luxembourg Corridor," CESifo Working Paper Series 11158, CESifo.
    3. Mauro Lanati & Rainer Thiele, 2021. "Aid for health, economic growth, and the emigration of medical workers," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(7), pages 1112-1140, October.
    4. Agarwal, Ruchir & Ganguli, Ina & Gaulé, Patrick & Smith, Geoff, 2023. "Why U.S. immigration matters for the global advancement of science," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(1).
    5. Mobarak, Ahmed Mushfiq & Sharif, Iffath & Shrestha, Maheshwor, 2021. "Returns to International Migration: Evidence from a Bangladesh-Malaysia Visa Lottery," IZA Discussion Papers 14232, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Blanco-Álvarez, Jose & Parsons, Christopher & Tang, Sam & Wang, Yong, 2022. "Brain Refrain and Human Capital Formation in Spain," IZA Discussion Papers 15400, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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