Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Lund Papers in Economic History,
Lund University, Department of Economic History

No 243: Home, Sweet Home: Returns to Returning in the Age of Mass Migration

Olof Ejermo (), Kerstin Enflo (), Björn Eriksson () and Erik Prawitz
Additional contact information
Olof Ejermo: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Postal: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Box 7083, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden
Kerstin Enflo: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Postal: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Box 7083, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden
Björn Eriksson: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Postal: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Box 7083, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden
Erik Prawitz: Linnaeus University & Research Institute of Industrial Economics

Abstract: Studying migrants from Sweden to the United States, we provide new evidence on return migration during the Age of Mass Migration. Focusing on a sample of migrants and stayers observed in childhood, we document limited effects on income and occupational upgrading, but large effects on wealth. Male returnees held about twice as much wealth as stayers and about 40 percent more than staying brothers. These effects were likely driven by accumulated savings overseas, rather than inheritance or an income premium back home. For female returnees, wealth effects are of similar magnitude, but appear to be realized primarily through marriage.

Keywords: emigration; returnees; selection; return location; occupational and social upgrading; income and wealth

JEL-codes: F22; J24; J62; N13; O15

Language: English

82 pages, November 17, 2022

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