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Selective immigration policies, human capital accumulation and migration duration in infinite horizon

Author

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  • Francesco Magris

    (EPEE - Centre d'Etudes des Politiques Economiques - UEVE - Université d'Évry-Val-d'Essonne)

  • Giuseppe Russo

    (PJSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, DISES - Department of Economics and Statistics - UNISA - Università degli Studi di Salerno = University of Salerno)

Abstract

An increasing literature encourages the use of selective immigration policies as a tool to promote incentives to education. It is argued that, since not everybody is allowed to migrate, under these policies a poor country may well turn out with more human capital than in autarchy. The implicit assumption is that migrations are permanent. However, this assumption has recently been dropped: a large literature studies the optimal migration duration in an intertemporal framework. In our work we study how selective immigration policies affect the human capital accumulation and the migration duration. Unlike most of the existing literature, the probability of entering abroad is endogenous and our analisys is not limited to two periods: there is no reason to consider a single migration spell, and our infinite-horizon model includes an aggregate shock as a source of constrained migration. Contrary to the "brain gain with a brain drain" reasoning, we show that selective policies may be harmful for human capital accumulation. As a consequence, their effectiveness is questionable, and they may produce a "brain loss" rather than a brain gain. Besides, borders closure backfires on migration duration especially for unskilled workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Magris & Giuseppe Russo, 2005. "Selective immigration policies, human capital accumulation and migration duration in infinite horizon," Working Papers halshs-00590772, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-00590772
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00590772
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    Cited by:

    1. Ismael Issifou & Francesco Magris, 2017. "Migration outflows and optimal migration policy: rules versus discretion," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 16(2), pages 87-112, August.
    2. Sergio Vergalli, 2011. "Entry and Exit Strategies in Migration Dynamics," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 362-389, December.
    3. Fausto Galli & Simone Manzavino & Giuseppe Russo, 2023. "Immigration Restriction and The Transfer of Cultural Norms Over Time and Boundaries:The Case of Religiosity," CSEF Working Papers 683, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy.
    4. Daniel MIRZA & Francesco MAGRIS & Rémi BAZILLIER, 2018. "Open Border Policies and the Exit of Migrants: Theory and Evidence from EU and Schengen Agreements," LEO Working Papers / DR LEO 2610, Orleans Economics Laboratory / Laboratoire d'Economie d'Orleans (LEO), University of Orleans.
    5. Fausto Galli & Giuseppe Russo, 2019. "Immigration restrictions and second-generation cultural assimilation: theory and quasi-experimental evidence," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(1), pages 23-51, January.
    6. Ariane TICHIT & Daniela BORODAK, 2009. "Should we stay or should we go? Irregular migration and duration of stay: the case of Moldovan migrants," Working Papers 200915, CERDI.
    7. Giuseppe Russo, 2011. "Voting over selective immigration policies with immigration aversion," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 325-351, December.
    8. Rémi Bazillier & Francesco Magris & Daniel Mirza, 2023. "Labor mobility agreements and exit of migrants: Evidence from Europe," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(3), pages 319-350, August.
    9. Kashif Iqbal & Yichu Wang & Khurshaid Khurshaid & Muhammad Haroon Shah & Muhammad Sohaib, 2021. "Current Trend and Determinants of Intentions to Migrate: Evidence From China," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440211, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    return migration; human capital; brain drain;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F20 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - General
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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