Economic Models
According to economist Michael Clemens, the estimated global efficiency gain from completely removing all international labor mobility barriers.
between 50% to 150% of world GDP
In the 2025 U.S. Senate budget bill, a 1% remittance tax was proposed on all US citizens. The previous House proposal aimed to tax remittances at 3.5% for this group.
non-US citizens
On average, urban migrants in Latin American cities earn higher wages than native residents primarily because migrants possess higher average levels of this.
Education Attainment
(Busso et al.)
This specific expanding economic sector in Guatemala offers the most promising strategy for integrating returning migrants by utilizing their English fluency
Sustainable Tourism
(Anita)
What metaphor does Michael Clemens use to describe the unrealized economic gains from reducing emigration barriers?
"Trillion-dollar bills on the sidewalk"
According to Michael Clemens, policy barriers on this specific factor of production create far greater global economic losses than barriers on international trade or capital.
Labor
According to empirical research cited by the Center for Global Development, for every 1% increase in the transaction cost of sending money abroad, the total remittances drop by this percentage
1.6%
Because newly arrived urban migrants face entry barriers in the formal labor market, a disproportionately high share of them work in this economic sector.
Informal Sector
(Busso et al.)
Launched in Guatemala to assist arriving deportees, this government initiative provides identification documents, mental health support, and job connections that utilize returnees' language abilities and work experience
Plan Retorno al Hogar (Return Home Plan)
In Busso et al.'s analysis urban migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean generally perform well in destination labor markets. However this immigrant group experienced worse outcomes.
“Female migrants" or "those displaced by violence/extreme weather events"
According to the Roy Model, this type of selection occurs when low-skilled workers have a stronger relative incentive to migrate than high-skilled workers.
Negative Selection
In absolute terms, this country stands to lose the largest amount from a 1% U.S. remittance tax. (DAILY DOUBLE - what amount)
Mexico, at $1.5B per year
The process of migrants becoming fully engaged in a destination city's economy, including participation in the labor market and alignment with local economic practices.
Economic Integration
In making the case for expanding Guatemala's tourism industry, Anita Isaacs notes that while tourism makes up only 5% of Guatemala's GDP, it accounts for nearly 40% of GDP in this neighboring Central American nation.
Belize
Borjas notes that some economists believe the economic gains from easing trade restrictions pale in comparison to those achievable by removing all existing restrictions on this.
"International immigration"
(Borjas)
The economic term for the net national gain host countries receive from immigration (DAILY DOUBLE)
Immigration Surplus
(In the US it is roughly .24% of GDP ~$35B)
This term describes how migrants gradually send smaller or less frequent transfers as their residence in the host nation becomes permanent and obligation shifts to host nation born children.
remittance decay
A government initiative that grants legal residency status to undocumented migrants, enabling them to work legally, access public services, and fully integrate into the host society.
Regularization Program
To encourage foreign-born residents to leave voluntarily without formal expulsion orders, U.S. immigration policy has promoted this practice
This term is defined by Borjas as the rate of convergence in economic outcomes between immigrants and natives in the post-migration period.
“Economic Assimilation”
(Borjas)
Using Puerto Rico to test mobility without legal barriers, Borjas calculates that social and cultural moving costs equal this multiple of a marginal worker's annual salary.
10 times
These organized migrant groups in destination countries pool community funds to finance local infrastructure, schools, and health clinics in their home villages.
Hometown Associations (HTA)s
To improve job prospects for skilled international migrants, host governments establish policy programs to certify and accredit these foreign qualifications.
professional credentials
Positive Selection occurs when immigrants have above- average earnings in both the source and the host country. Following Return Migration, this group remains.
"The best of the best"
(Borjas)