A Brain Gain or a Brain Drain? Migration, Endogenous Fertility, and Human Capital Formation

C-Tier
Journal: Economic Inquiry
Year: 2009
Volume: 47
Issue: 4
Pages: 766-782

Score contribution per author:

1.009 = (α=2.02 / 1 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

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

Abstract

This study develops an endogenous growth model of migration to analyze the impact of international migration on the economic growth of a source country. When making their fertility and education decisions, adults may have the option of migrating to a foreign country. We find that changes in the migration probability or the extent of migration costs will lead to a trade‐off between the quality and the quantity of children. When a host country cannot differentiate between the abilities of migrants, an increase in migration probability will raise a source country’s economic growth. When low‐ and high‐skilled workers are faced with different migration probabilities, allowing more low‐skilled workers to emigrate will cause a “brain gain” in both the short run and the long run. However, relaxation of restrictions on the emigration of high‐skilled workers will damage economic growth in the long run, although a brain gain may occur in the short run.(JEL F22, J24, O15)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:ecinqu:v:47:y:2009:i:4:p:766-782
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25