Migration, Remittances, Poverty, and Human Capital : Conceptual and Empirical Challenges

McKenzie, David ; Sasin, Marcin J.

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: BANKING SYSTEM;    BRAIN DRAIN;    CHILD HEALTH;    CHILD LABOR;    CHILD MORTALITY;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-4272
RP-ID  :  WPS4272

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper reviews common challengesfaced by researchers interested in measuring the impact ofmigration and remittances on income, poverty, inequality,and human capital (or, in general, "welfare") aswell as difficulties confronting development practitionersin converting this research into policy advice. On theanalytical side, the paper discusses the proper formulationof a research question, the choice of the analytical tools,as well as the interpretation of the results in the presenceof pervasive endogeneity in all decisions surroundingmigration. Particular attention is given to the use ofinstrumental variables in migration research. On the policyside, the paper argues that the private nature of migrationand remittances implies a need to carefully spell out therationale for interventions. It also notices the lack ofgood migration data and proper evaluations ofmigration-related government policies. The paper focusesmainly on microeconomic evidence about internationalmigration, but much of the discussion extends to othersettings as well.