American Economic Journal:
Applied Economics
ISSN 1945-7782 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7790 (Online)
Distortions in the International Migrant Labor Market: Evidence from Filipino Migration and Wage Responses to Destination Country Economic Shocks
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
vol. 6,
no. 2, April 2014
(pp. 49–75)
Abstract
We use an original panel dataset of migrant departures from the Philippines to identify the responsiveness of migrant numbers and wages to GDP shocks in destination countries. We find a large, significant response of migrant numbers to GDP shocks at destination, but no significant wage response. This is consistent with binding minimum wages for migrant labor. This result implies that labor market imperfections that make international migration attractive also make migrant flows more sensitive to global business cycles. Difference-in-differences analysis of a minimum wage change for maids confirms that minimum wages bind and demand is price sensitive without these distortions.Citation
McKenzie, David, Caroline Theoharides, and Dean Yang. 2014. "Distortions in the International Migrant Labor Market: Evidence from Filipino Migration and Wage Responses to Destination Country Economic Shocks." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 6 (2): 49–75. DOI: 10.1257/app.6.2.49Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- F22 International Migration
- J31 Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
- J38 Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs: Public Policy
- J61 Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration