AN ASSESSMENT OF THE HUMAN-CAPITAL CONTENT OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS - AN APPLICATION TO UNITED-STATES IMMIGRATION

Numerous studies have examined the flow of international migrants. Gen erally, these studies measure the extent or magnitude of international migration by use of a simple numerical count. This paper extends this analysis by providing a methodology for adding an economic dimension to the measure of the magnitude of international migration. An earning s equation approach is used to attach an economic value to immigration . Applying our methodology to US immigration, we find considerable var iation across source regions in the value of immigrants. Moreover, we find that simply comparing initial earnings without controlling for di fferences in the characteristics and migration patterns of immigrants from the various source regions can misrepresent the relative earnings potential or value of migrants.