The Microeconomic Determinants of Emigration and Return Migration - Working Paper 173

Visiting fellow John Gibson and David McKenzie analyze migration among the best and brightest of three Pacific countries. Although the gains in income from emigrating tend to be large, other preferences—such as patience, aversion to risk, and choice of academic subjects—are more closely associated with the decision to migrate.

The data reveal the need to pay more attention to the many other factors influencing migration and to modify policies to extend the benefits of migration.