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Fertility, Migration, and Altruism

Author

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  • Eli Berman
  • Zaur Rzakhanov
Abstract
Consider migration to a higher income region as a human capital investment in which parents bear migration costs and children share returns. Migrants from a population with heterogeneous intergenerational discount rates will be self-selected on intergenerational altruism. Thus, immigrants may be self-selected on fertility. Soviet Jews who migrate to Israel despite high migration costs have significantly more children than members of the same birth cohort who migrate later when costs are low. We distinguish selection from treatment effects using a comparison group of women who migrate after childbearing age. We also find that immigrants favor bequests more and spend more time with their grandchildren in the U.S. Health and Retirement Survey. Selection on altruism can explain why historically immigrant-absorbing countries like the U.S. have higher fertility than other countries at comparable income levels. It provides an alternative explanation for Chiswick's classic earnings-overtaking result. Selection on altruism also implies that immigrant-absorbing regions will grow faster, or have higher per capita income, or both.

Suggested Citation

  • Eli Berman & Zaur Rzakhanov, 2000. "Fertility, Migration, and Altruism," NBER Working Papers 7545, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:7545
    Note: AG CH ITI LS
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. John Gardner, 2020. "Intergenerational altruism in the migration decision calculus: evidence from the African American Great Migration," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(1), pages 115-154, January.
    2. Yashiv, Eran, 2004. "The Self-Selection of Migrant Workers Revisited," IZA Discussion Papers 1094, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Abdurrahman Aydemir & Wen-Hao Chen & Miles Corak, 2013. "Intergenerational Education Mobility among the Children of Canadian Immigrants," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 39(s1), pages 107-122, May.
    4. Klöble, Katrin, 2021. "A behavioural perspective on the drivers of migration: Studying economic and social preferences using the Gallup World Poll," IDOS Discussion Papers 4/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    5. Philippe Fargues, 2000. "Protracted National Conflict and Fertility Change: Palestinians and Israelis in the Twentieth Century," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 26(3), pages 441-482, September.
    6. Abdurrahman Aydemir & Wen-Hao Chen & Miles Corak, 2013. "Intergenerational Education Mobility among the Children of Canadian Immigrants," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 39(s1), pages 107-122, May.
    7. Yashiv, Eran, 2003. "Self-Selection of Migrant Workers: Migration Premium and (no) Returns to Skills," CEPR Discussion Papers 4156, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Leers, Theo & Meijdam, Lex & Verbon, Harrie A. A., 2004. "Ageing, migration and endogenous public pensions," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(1-2), pages 131-159, January.
    9. Emmanuel Thibault, 2017. "Is GDP a Relevant Social Welfare Indicator? A Savers—Spenders Theory Approach," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 68(3), pages 333-351, September.
    10. Leers, T., 2001. "Public pensions and population ageing : An economic analysis of fertility, migration and social-security policy," Other publications TiSEM 0c2c876f-d263-4d1e-b820-c, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers

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