What Affects International Migration of European Science and Engineering Graduates?

Andries de Grip, Didier Fouarge and Jan Sauermann

No 4268, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using a dataset of science and engineering graduates from 12 European countries, we analyse the determinants of labour migration after graduation. We find that not only wage gains are driving the migration decision, but also differences in labour market opportunities, past migration experience, and international student exchange are strong predictors of future migration. Contrary to our expectations, job characteristics such as the utilisation of skills in the job and involvement in innovation hardly affect the migration decision. When analysing country choice, countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia appear to attract migrants due their larger R&D intensity. Moreover, graduates with higher grades are more likely to migrate to these countries.

Keywords: scientists & engineers; university graduates; migration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2009-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-eec, nep-lab and nep-mig
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

Published - published in: Economics of Innovation and New Technology , 2010, 19(5), 407-421

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Related works:
Journal Article: What affects international migration of European science and engineering graduates? (2010)
Working Paper: What affects international migration of European science and engineering graduates? (2008)
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