Immigration Flows and Regional Labor Market Dynamics

Author/Editor:

Dominique M. Gross

Publication Date:

April 1, 1998

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

The paper analyzes the ability of a regional labor market to absorb growing flows of immigrant workers with declining levels of skills during relatively high unemployment. The impact of the size of the flow and the skill characteristics of the immigrants are analyzed. It is found that immigration is positively related to unemployment in the short run but in the long run is negatively related. Also, a higher average skill level among immigrants makes them more effective in their job search in the short run. Finally, increasing the discrepancy between the skill distribution of immigrants and that of the existing workforce is desirable, as both types of labor appear to be complements in the short-run.

Series:

Working Paper No. 1998/047

Subject:

Labor Labor markets Migration Population and demographics Real wages Unemployment Unemployment rate

English

Publication Date:

April 1, 1998

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451846614/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA0471998

Pages:

29

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