Biographical note: Giuseppe Bertola is Professor of Economics at the University of Turin. Reto Foellmi is Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Zurich. Josef Zweimüller is Professor of Economics at the University of Zurich.

This study investigated whether economic motivations are a key factor in international migration decisions. Applying the selectivity-corrected expected income for migrants and stayers, the difference in expected income for an individual in origin and destination countries was analyzed. This...