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Does Migration Empower Married Women?

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  • Chen, Natalie
  • Conconi, Paola
  • Perroni, Carlo

Abstract

Household migration can affect labor market opportunities differently for the two spouses, both because of gender-specific differences between the skills of migrants and the skills that are in demand in the host country, and because of differences in the extent of gender-based labor market discrimination between the country of origin and the host country. Standard bargaining theory suggests that, if household migration leads to a comparative improvement in labor market opportunities for married women, it should be beneficial to them. We show that, if renegotiation possibilities for migrant women are limited, the opposite may be true, particularly if women are specialized in household activities and the labor market allows more flexibility in their labor supply choices. Evidence from the German Socio-Economic Panel indeed shows that, holding everything else constant, improvements in relative wages for migrant women do not translate into better outcomes for them.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Natalie & Conconi, Paola & Perroni, Carlo, 2007. "Does Migration Empower Married Women?," Economic Research Papers 269761, University of Warwick - Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uwarer:269761
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.269761
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Consumer/Household Economics; Labor and Human Capital;

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business

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