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A practitioners' guide to gravity models of international migration

Author

Listed:
  • Michel Beine

    (CREA, Université du Luxembourg)

  • Simone Bertoli

    (CERDI, University of Auvergne and CNRS)

  • Jesús Fernández-Huertas Moraga

    (FEDEA and IAE, CSIC)

Abstract

The use of bilateral data for the analysis of international migration is at the same time a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing since the dyadic dimension of the data allows researchers to address a number of previously unanswered questions, but it is also a curse for the various analytical challenges it gives rise to. This paper presents the theoretical foundations of the estimation of gravity models of international migration, and the main difficulties that have to be tackled in the econometric analysis, such as the nature of migration data, how to account for multilateral resistance to migration or endogeneity. We also review some empirical evidence that has considered these issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Beine & Simone Bertoli & Jesús Fernández-Huertas Moraga, 2014. "A practitioners' guide to gravity models of international migration," DEM Discussion Paper Series 14-24, Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:luc:wpaper:14-24
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gravity equation; discrete choice models; international migration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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