Abstract

References (22)

Beta

Citations (2)

Beta

Add to Cart |

NBER Subscribers Download | Share | Email | Add to Briefcase

Optimal Migration: A World Perspective

Jess Benhabib
Leonard N. Stern School of Business - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Boyan Jovanovic
New York University - Stern School of Business, Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

January 2007

NBER Working Paper No. W12871

Abstract:
We ask what level of migration would maximize world welfare. We find that skill-neutral policies are never optimal. An egalitarian welfare function induces a policy that entails moving mainly unskilled immigrants into the rich countries, whereas a welfare function skewed highly towards the rich countries induces an optimal policy that entails a brain-drain from the poor countries. For intermediate welfare functions that moderately favor the rich however, it is optimal to have no migration at all.

Working Paper Series

Date posted: January 31, 2007 ; Last revised: January 31, 2007

Suggested Citation

Benhabib, Jess and Jovanovic, Boyan, Optimal Migration: A World Perspective (January 2007). NBER Working Paper No. W12871. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=960446

Export to: Export Citation What's this?

Contact Information

Jess Benhabib (Contact Author) Leonard N. Stern School of Business - Department of Economics ( email ) 269 Mercer Street 7th Floor New York, NY 10003 United States 212-998-8971 (Phone) 212-995-4186 (Fax)
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 United States
Boyan Jovanovic New York University - Stern School of Business, Department of Economics ( email ) 269 Mercer Street New York, NY 10003 United States
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 United States