Working Paper: NBER ID: w16736
Authors: Sari Pekkala Kerr; William R. Kerr
Abstract: This paper surveys recent empirical studies on the economic impacts of immigration. The survey first examines the magnitude of immigration as an economic phenomenon in various host countries. The second part deals with the assimilation of immigrant workers into host-country labor markets and concomitant effects for natives. The paper then turns to immigration's impact for the public finances of host countries. The final section considers emerging topics in the study of immigration. The survey particularly emphasizes the recent experiences of Northern Europe and Scandinavia and relevant lessons from traditional destination countries like the US.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: H53; J23; J31; J61; J68
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Immigration (F22) | Increase in labor supply (J20) |
| Increase in labor supply (J20) | Decrease in average wages for native workers (J39) |
| Immigrants earn less than natives upon entry (K37) | Earnings convergence over time (F62) |
| Initial conditions of immigrants (J69) | Economic assimilation (F15) |
| Immigration (F22) | Potential displacement effects on native groups (J15) |
| Immigrant characteristics (J61) | Labor market outcomes (J48) |
| Immigrants' reliance on social benefits (J68) | Long-term fiscal impact (H69) |