Home Sweet Home: Returns to Returning in the Age of Mass Migration

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
Year: 2025
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Pages: 29-59

Authors (4)

Olof Ejermo (not in RePEc) Kerstin Enflo (Lunds Universitet) Björn Eriksson (not in RePEc) Erik Prawitz (Linnéuniversitet)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

Despite significant circular migration flows historically and today, their economic impacts remain understudied. Using data on predominantly rural Swedish migrants who returned from the United States during the Age of Mass Migration, we estimate returns to temporary migration in terms of wealth, income, demographic, and social outcomes. We find substantial wealth effects but limited evidence of increased labor income or occupational upgrading. Male returnees held nearly double the wealth of stayers, likely due to overseas savings, while female returnees gained wealth mainly through marriage. These findings highlight the need to consider wealth when evaluating the economic returns of temporary migration.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejapp:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:29-59
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25