Medical Worker Migration and Origin-Country Human Capital: Evidence from U.S. Visa Policy

A-Tier
Journal: Review of Economics and Statistics
Year: 2024
Volume: 106
Issue: 1
Pages: 20-35

Authors (2)

Paolo Abarcar (not in RePEc) Caroline Theoharides (Amherst College)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We exploit changes in U.S. visa policies for nurses to measure the origin-country human capital response to international migration opportunities. Combining data on all migrant departures and postsecondary institutions in the Philippines, we show that nursing enrollment and graduation increased substantially in response to greater U.S. demand for nurses. The supply of nursing programs expanded. Nurse quality, measured by licensure exam pass rates, declined. Despite this, for each nurse migrant, nine additional nurses were licensed. New nurses switched from other degree types but graduated at higher rates than they would have otherwise, increasing the human capital stock in the Philippines.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:tpr:restat:v:106:y:2024:i:1:p:20-35
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29