How Important is Selection? Experimental Versus Non-Experimental Measures of the Income Gains from Migration

@article{McKenzie2006HowII,
  title={How Important is Selection? Experimental Versus Non-Experimental Measures of the Income Gains from Migration},
  author={David McKenzie and John Gibson and Steven Stillman},
  journal={World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series},
  year={2006}
}
Measuring the gain in income from migration is complicated by non-random selection of migrants from the general population, making it difficult to obtain an appropriate comparison group of non-migrants. This paper uses a migrant lottery to overcome this problem, providing an experimental measure of the income gains from migration. New Zealand allows a quota of Tongans to immigrate each year with a lottery to choose among the excess number of applicants. A unique survey conducted by the authors… Expand
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