Does immigration affect residential real estate prices? Evidence from Australia

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effect of immigration on housing prices in Australia both at the national and regional levels. Design/methodology/approach Data for eight Australian states on a quarterly basis from 2004–2017 is used. To study the possible dynamic and endogenous relationship between housing prices and immigration, a panel vector autoregressive error correction model (PVECM) is adopted. Findings Analysis of the results indicates that in the short run immigration positively and significantly affects housing prices, whereas in the long run no significant relationship was observed between the two variables. From the regional breakdown and analysis, it is discerned that in some states there is a significant and positive effect of immigration on residential real estate prices in the long run. Causality analysis confirms that the direction of causation is from immigration to housing prices. Practical implications The study illustrates that immigration and interstate migration, as well as high salaries, have been causing a rise in housing demand and subsequently housing prices. To monitor exceedingly high housing prices, local authorities should be controlling migration and salary levels. Originality/value Past research studies had highlighted the importance of native interstate migration in explaining the nexus between immigration – housing prices. In this study, it has been empirically verified how immigration has been affecting the locational decisions of natives and subsequently how this has been affecting housing prices.

‘Bonbibi’ Could Wait Till Our Boss Decides: Looking at the Changing Face of the Indian Sundarbans

Internal migration constitutes a major source of steady flow of population in India, and reports published by the World Economic Forum (WEF),1 2017 state that interstate migration in the country has doubled during 2001–2011, compared to the previous decade.2 In developing countries, such migration is often considered to be an effective way for income diversification for the economically marginalised sections of the society, even though its effect on ‘human development’ is oft debated. This article would engage with this debate and bring out how migration from the Indian part of the Sundarbans to other parts of the country is not only changing the demography of the region but is also having a strong impact on the local perception and attachment towards the deltaic landscape. By bringing in ethnographic details from a village in the Indian Sundarbans, which was predominately inhabited by the fishing community earlier, this article would bring out how traditional occupations like fishing are slowly losing their popularity in the face of the lure of out-migration, as the very identity of the ‘indigenous’ Sundarban fisher folks—who were once rightfully considered to be the true conservator of the forests—is changing. From there, this article would engage with the broader debate of rethinking whether migration can be considered as a positive indicator of development in such ecologically fragile areas like the Sundarban deltas, which used to indeed have a distinct economic, social and cultural life of its own.

Migration and Labor Market Integration in Europe

The European labor market allows for the border-free mobility of workers across 31 countries that cover most of the continent’s population. However, rates of migration across European countries remain considerably lower than interstate migration in the United States, and spatial variation in terms of unemployment or income levels is larger. We document patterns of migration in Europe, which include a sizable migration from east to west in the last twenty years. An analysis of worker-level microdata provides some evidence for an international convergence in wage rates and for modest static gains from migration. We conclude by discussing obstacles to migration that reduce the potential for further labor market integration in Europe.

Smoothing destination-specific migration flows

Accurately estimating age profiles for destination-specific migration is requisite to understanding the determinants of population growth and projecting future change as migration is the primary growth determinant for most regions. In Australia, place-to-place flows based on the age profile of migration derived from census data are commonly used to empirically estimate destination-specific internal migration. However, such flows are heterogeneous and census data is imperfect for accurately generating migration-age profiles. Demographers have addressed this by developing a range of methods for smoothing migration probabilities. These address smoothing on a bi-regional basis, primarily with one destination–origin pairing. We propose a non-parametric method for smoothing destination-specific migration probabilities which can be applied to multi-regional smoothing and is within the generation–distribution framework of Rogers et al. (Environ Plan A 34:341–359, 2002). We demonstrate that, if total age-specific out-migration has already been estimated, smoothing destination-specific migration ratios provides a solution to imperfect input data. Using the example of Australian interstate migration, we show how the method can give an accurate fit to the migration ratio profile across high-curvature ages and a good treatment of sample noise both when the population at risk is low, such as at advanced ages, and when the destination has a low conditional probability of migration. An implementation of the method is available as an Excel add-in.

Analysis of educational migration processes: regional aspect

Analysis and consideration of current migration trends in our country, in particular mass interstate migration movements in the context of Ukraine's participation in the European and world migration space, are considered among the important factors in shaping its national policy. Educational migration is a special threat to the socio-economic development of the country and sustainable development of society, as the formation of highly qualified personnel, accumulation of intellectual capital, and increasing scientific and technological potential of the country are among the important factors of economic and social progress. Due to the intensification of interstate migration flows and the development of the quality of the higher education system in foreign educational institutions, migration for education takes a larger share, which is mostly accompanied by constant migration and departure of Ukrainian citizens for permanent residence abroad. The analysis of publications on this issue proves the urgency of educational migration research, and today it remains important to analyze trends in educational migration, find mechanisms to counter the transformation of Ukraine into a country of origin of educational migrants, as well as their repatriation. The article analyzes the educational migration processes in Ukraine in the regional context. The main regional centers of higher education are identified. The focus is on the migration intentions of the population to study abroad and a comparative description of the educational systems of different countries. The order and stages of the admission campaign in foreign educational institutions are described. The essence and features of educational migration are studied and the main reasons that help Ukrainian students to choose foreign higher education institutions are highlighted. The main causes and consequences of educational migration, as well as potential opportunities for educational migration, are identified. Certain benefits and costs associated with educational migration processes are justified. The directions of development of educational migration and effective migration system in Ukraine and its regions, which should take a worthy place in the migration policy of the state, are offered.

Mathematical modeling of a one-dimensional demographic process

The specifics of the current stage of society connects with significant changes in directions and internal scales and interstate migration of the population. In this regard population migration processes between the two states are exploring in a one-dimensional case. Now the scientific literature offers different mathematical models of these processes [1]. However, we will use diffusion models for modeling these processes.

Is Occupational Licensing a Barrier to Interstate Migration?

Occupational licensure may limit the interstate movement of workers because it adds to the cost of moving between states. We analyze the interstate migration of 22 licensed occupations, proxying for the difficulty of the regulations by comparing state-specific licensed occupations to those with national licensing exams. Our empirical strategy also uses individuals who move a long distance, removing the influence of occupation characteristics and self-selection of migration-averse individuals into licensed occupations. Our estimates show that occupational licensing reduces interstate migration, but the magnitude of the effect can only account for a small part of the overall decline in recent decades. (JEL J44, J61, R23)