Contrary to the welfare magnet hypothesis, empirical evidence suggests that immigration decisions are not made on the basis of the relative generosity of the receiving nation's social benefits. Even when immigrants are found to use welfare more intensively than natives, the gap is mostly...

The paper reviews the evidence on a "hot" and yet underexplored question-that is, whether and how social assistance programs (especially cash transfers) affect domestic and international migration. Out an initial sample of 269 papers, 10 relevant empirical studies examine the question. The...

The paper reviews the evidence on a "hot" and yet underexplored question -- that is, whether and how social assistance programs (especially cash transfers) affect domestic and international migration. Out an initial sample of 269 papers, 10 relevant empirical studies examine the question. The...

Assuming an inelastic labor supply, existing studies on spatial inequalities across countries show that a larger country has the advantages of a higher wage rate and a higher individual income. This paper reexamines these results by use of a model with an endogenous labor supply and variable...