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The Elasticity of the Migrant Labor Supply: Evidence from Temporary Filipino Migrants

Author

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  • Bertoli, Simone

    (CERDI, Université Clermont Auvergne)

  • Fernández-Huertas Moraga, Jesús

    (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid)

  • Keita, Sekou

    (CERDI, University of Auvergne)

Abstract

The effect of immigration on host and origin countries is mediated by the way migrants take their labor supply decisions. We propose a simple way of integrating the traditional random utility maximization model used to analyze location decisions with a classical labor demand function at destination. Our setup allows us to estimate a general upper bound on the elasticity of the migrant labor supply that we take to the data using the evolution of the numbers and wages of temporary overseas Filipino workers between 1992 and 2009 to different destinations. We find that the migrant labor supply elasticity can be very large. Temporary migrants are very reactive to economic conditions in their potential destinations.

Suggested Citation

  • Bertoli, Simone & Fernández-Huertas Moraga, Jesús & Keita, Sekou, 2016. "The Elasticity of the Migrant Labor Supply: Evidence from Temporary Filipino Migrants," IZA Discussion Papers 10031, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10031
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labor supply elasticity; temporary migration; international migration; multilateral resistance to migration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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