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Björn Eriksson

Researcher

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Home, Sweet Home: Returns to Returning in the Age of Mass Migration

Author

  • Olof Ejermo
  • Kerstin Enflo
  • Björn Eriksson
  • Erik Prawitz

Summary, in English

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.

Department/s

  • Department of Economic History
  • Growth, technological change, and inequality

Publishing year

2022

Language

English

Pages

1-83

Publication/Series

Lund Papers in Economic History

Issue

2022:243

Document type

Working paper

Topic

  • Economic History

Keywords

  • emigration
  • returnees
  • selection
  • return location
  • occupational and social upgrading
  • income and wealth
  • N13
  • F22
  • O15
  • J24
  • J62

Status

Published