Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/20247 
Year of Publication: 
2004
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 1012
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper estimates a structural dynamic life-cycle model of outmigration where, in each period, immigrants choose whether to work in the host country, not to work but remain in the host country, or outmigrate. The model incorporates several features of existing life-cycle theories of outmigration but distinguishes itself by introducing uncertainty in about future earnings and preferences which allows immigrants to revise their duration decisions throughout their migration experience. We overcome the problem of not directly observing outmigration movements by using panel attrition as a proxy variable and use a simple method to correct for the fact that part of the attrition is not a consequence of outmigration. Estimates are used to predict changes in life-cycle patterns of outmigration behavior. Estimation results indicate that outmigration does not depend exclusively on earnings differentials. Estimated assimilation rates are found to be robust to selection effects. Immigrants are found to be forward looking decision makers, and simulations show that predicted migration durations are very sensitive to changes in their economic environment and differ considerably from those of a myopic model.
Subjects: 
outmigration
structural dynamic programming models
JEL: 
J61
C61
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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