Migration, Relationship Capital and International Travel: Theory and Evidence

Philip McCann (), Jacques Poot and Lynda Sanderson ()
Additional contact information
Lynda Sanderson: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

No 808, RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series from Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM)

Abstract: In this paper we consider how international migration is related to the frequency and duration of trips to the home country. For many migrants, international migration triggers a series of trips to visit the home country that allow for a replenishment of the depleted relationship capital with family and friends back home, but these trips incur travel costs and foregone earnings. Given plausible assumptions about the depreciation and replenishment of home country relationship capital, a steady-state level of average maintained relationship capital implies that the optimized travel frequency is inversely related to the distance and the transportation costs, and positively related to the psychological costs of separation. The total time spent at home is increasing in the trip frequency, but with an elasticity that is decreasing in cultural proximity. Empirical evidence in support of these theoretical predictions is found in a unique longitudinal sample of international travel of 13,674 New Zealand citizens and 6,882 UK citizens who migrated to Australia between 1 August 1999 and 31 July 2000.

Keywords: International Migration; Trip Frequency, Relationship Capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J61 R23 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-geo, nep-mig, nep-soc and nep-tur
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Migration, relationship capital and international travel: theory and evidence (2010)
Working Paper: Migration, Relationship Capital and International Travel: Theory and Evidence (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:crm:wpaper:0808

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