A Market for Work Permits

Michael Lokshin and Martin Ravallion

No 26590, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: It will be politically difficult to liberalize international migration without protecting host-country workers. The paper explores the scope for efficiently managing migration using a competitive market for work permits. Host-county workers would have the option of renting out their citizenship work permit for a period of their choice, while foreigners purchase time-bound work permits. Aggregate labor supply need not rise in the host country. However, total output would rise and workers would see enhanced social protection. Simulations for the US and Mexico suggest that the new market would attract many skilled migrants, boosting GDP and reducing poverty in the US.

JEL-codes: F22 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab, nep-ltv and nep-mig
Note: DEV LS
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Published as Michael Lokshin & Martin Ravallion, 2022. "A market for work permits," Economic Policy, vol 37(111), pages 471-499.

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