Family Size, Sibling Rivalry and Migration: Evidence from Mexico

Massimiliano Bratti, Simona Fiore () and Mariapia Mendola
Additional contact information
Simona Fiore: University of Bologna

No 10462, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper examines the causal effects of family size and demographic structure on offspring's international migration. We use rich survey data from Mexico to estimate the impact of sibship size, birth order and sibling composition on teenagers' and young adults' migration outcomes. We find no empirical support for the hypothesis that high fertility drives migration. The positive correlation between sibship size and migration disappears when endogeneity of family size is addressed using biological fertility (miscarriages) and infertility shocks. Yet, the chances to migrate are not equally distributed across children within the family. Older siblings, especially firstborn males, are more likely to migrate, while having more sisters than brothers may increase the chances of migration, particularly among girls.

Keywords: birth order; family size; Mexico; international migration; sibling rivalry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J13 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 63 pages
Date: 2016-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem, nep-dev, nep-mig and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Forthcoming - revised version published as 'The Impact of Family Size and Sibling Structure on the Great Mexico-U.S. Migration' in: Journal of Population Economics, 2020, 33(2), 483-529

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Related works:
Working Paper: Family Size, Sibling Rivalry and Migration: Evidence from Mexico (2017)
Working Paper: Family Size, Sibling Rivalry and Migration: Evidence from Mexico (2016)
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