Why Immigration Is an Urban Phenomenon

Joan Monras

FRBSF Economic Letter, 2023, vol. 2023, issue 16, 5

Abstract: Immigration is fundamentally an urban phenomenon. Both in the United States and elsewhere, immigrants settle primarily in cities—especially high-wage, high cost-of-living cities. The most likely reason is that immigrants often send a significant share of their income back to their origin country. As a result, they value a city’s high wages and are less discouraged by the high living costs than native-born workers. Migration policies can reinforce this urban concentration pattern.

Keywords: immigration; migration; immigrants; income; wages (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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