Determinants of European immigration: a cross-country analysis

Abstract

This paper analyses the determinants of international immigration in 13 European destination countries using a data set on 139 origin countries in 2000. The results indicate that gravity variables (population and distance), the macroeconomic conditions, cultural proximity, and the existence of narrow trade relationships are important explanatory factors.

Acknowledgements

Financial support from Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (project SEC2003-05836/ECO), Generalitat Valenciana (project GV04B-070) and Agencia Valenciana de Ciencia y Tecnología (Grupos 03/151) is gratefully acknowledged.

Notes

¹ See Hatton and Williamson (2002) for the UK case, Volger and Rotte (2000) for Germany, and the survey on studies of migration into Germany in Fertig and Schmidt (2000). An exception is Pedersen et al . (2004) who analyses 27 OECD countries.

² See, for example, Sjaastad (1962) and Borjas (1987).