Male and Female Self-Selection During the Portuguese Mass Migration, 1885-1930

30 Pages Posted: 9 Aug 2022 Last revised: 23 Jan 2023

See all articles by Martín Fernández Sánchez

Martín Fernández Sánchez

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

Gaspare Tortorici

Heidelberg University - Alfred Weber Institute for Economics

Date Written: January 23, 2023

Abstract

This paper examines the evolution and determinants of migrant self-selection by gender during the age of mass migration. Using newly digitised district-level data on emigration from Portugal, we construct a literacy-based self-selection index and document
three stylized facts: (i) average self-selection was positive throughout 1885-1930; (ii) men were more positively self-selected than women during 1885-1915 but similarly thereafter; (iii) aggregate self-selection measures mask substantial variation across districts and time.
Our econometric analysis shows that self-selection was negatively associated with both the size of migrant flows and the share of migrants going to Brazil, while emigration to Africa was related to more positive selection. The decreasing importance of flows to Brazil in favor of Europe after 1915 may partly explain the vanishing of differences in self-selection between men and women.

Keywords: Migration, self-selection, women, Portugal

JEL Classification: N10, F22, I20

Suggested Citation

Fernández Sánchez, Martín and Tortorici, Gaspare, Male and Female Self-Selection During the Portuguese Mass Migration, 1885-1930 (January 23, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4180590 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4180590

Martín Fernández Sánchez (Contact Author)

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) ( email )

Maison des Sciences Humaines
11, Porte des Sciences
Esch-sur-Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette 4366
Luxembourg

HOME PAGE: http://https://sites.google.com/view/martinfernandezsanchez/home

Gaspare Tortorici

Heidelberg University - Alfred Weber Institute for Economics ( email )

Grabengasse 14
Heidelberg, D-69117
Germany

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
63
Abstract Views
282
Rank
543,429
PlumX Metrics