Migration And The International Labor Market 1850-1939

This book examines the role of international migration in the development of the international labor market. It looks at the causes of migration, the effects of migration on wages and employment, and the responsiveness of migration to wage differentials and international labor market integration.

International migration has long been a topic of debate. In the West, questions concerning its causes and consequences have always influenced policy. As a result, much has been written on the historical role of immigration although this has largely focused on social rather than economic history. Migration and the International Labour Market 1850-1939 redresses this imbalance and puts the emphasis firmly on economic issues. This volume concentrates on the two central aspects of international migration - the forces which cause it and its economic effect. While the stress is placed firmly on examining the economic forces in migration with quantitative evidence. The contributors are drawn from a wide range of countries representing both the Old and the New Worlds. Each of them examines and tests the validity of migration theories in the historical setting. In some cases migration is viewed from a comparative perspective - an approach which is facilitated by new data on internationally comparable real wages. The authors also look at the responsiveness of migration from different countries to international wage differentials and the degree of international labour market integration. Review: ... by articulating the lessons of history in terms of current policy issues, this volume provides a solid basis for future work bridging the gaps between history and modern labor economics.... The quality of the empirical analyses is high and the selection of topics is interesting. -Carmel U. Chiswick, Journal of Economic Literature