The effect of low-skilled immigration on local productivity and amenities: Learning from the South Korean experience

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Urban Economics
Year: 2025
Volume: 146
Issue: C

Authors (3)

Kim, Hyejin (not in RePEc) Lee, Jongkwan (not in RePEc) Peri, Giovanni (University of California-Davis)

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

In this study, we evaluate the economic effects of a significant increase in low-skilled immigration in Korean Municipalities. Using a change in immigration policy in 2004 and the pre-existing immigrant networks we estimate the effects of low-skilled immigration on local wages, net native migration, and housing prices. We interpret the findings using a canonical representative agent spatial equilibrium model as in Glaeser and Gottlieb (2009) to infer the equilibrium effects of immigration on local productivity and amenities. An increase of immigrants equal to 1 percent of the local population generated a 1% increase in local productivity and a 1.6% decrease in local amenities. We also find a net migration response of zero among natives deriving from an inflow of those who moved for work-related and an outflow of those who moved for amenity-related reasons. Finally, we find a direct negative effect of the immigration shock on measures of local amenities.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:juecon:v:146:y:2025:i:c:s0094119025000038
Journal Field
Urban
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-28