Timing of migration

The purpose of this paper is to determine the optimal timing of migration from an individual point of view. In addition to the economic differences between the countries, the optimal migration age also depends on social factors, in particular, the preference for the country of birth and the migration network established in the host country. The model shows that it could be optimal to delay the departure time instead of migrating immediately.

Politics of immigration - quotas of entrance and hidden economy

In spite of the fact that in recent years there has been a growing interest for the hidden economy, little attention has been lent to its relation with the illegal immigration as a consequence of the establishment of quotas. The objective of this work is to analyze the effect of a change in the quotas of legal immigrants in the size of the legal and illegal migration, the underground economy, and in the incomes perceived by the workers. The main conclusions are that, as opposed to the short time, in the long-term equilibrium, an increment of the quota does not have effect on the size of the migration, but in the composition between legal and illegal. On the other hand diminishes the work destined to the management of the underground economy by the reduction of illegal immigrants in the stationary state, however the effect is positive in the short run by the “called effect” of illegal immigrants that carries an increment in the quota.

Illegal immigration and a heterogeneous labour force. When can quotas generate an internal conflict?

In this paper we analyze the effects on the welfare of heterogeneous native workers in the context of the presence of legal and illegal immigrants, and where the main instrument of economic policy takes the form of entry quotas. In the framework of a model of overlapping generations, we find that these effects are not monotonous. More particularly, we note that in certain circumstances the effects on the native workers of a change in the quota are opposite in nature, depending on whether or not these workers are qualified. The key aspect of this result is, on the one hand, the effect of illegal immigration on wages and, on the other, the part of income generated by the illegal immigrants that is appropriated by the natives for managing this “informal” labour market. Keywords: Illegal immigration; entry quotas; qualification. JEL: F22, J61,J68.

Determinants of return migration in Spain in its new role as a receiving country

Around 5% of the foreign population residing in Spain took the decision to leave this country in 2009. Spain has recently become a receiving country for migrants and the phenomenon of temporary migration is on the rise. The aim of this paper is to provide some insights into the determinants that affect the decision of foreign immigrants to return to their country of birth, once the decision to leave Spain has been taken.

A propòsit d'una cançó popular recollida per Jacint Verdaguer i enviada al seu amic Marià Aguiló

«Comiat de Vic» forma part del recull de cançons populars que Jacint Verdaguer va enviar al seu amic i erudit mallorquí Marià Aguiló. La lletra de la cançó traça un itinerari a través de la ciutat que va fent menció dels edificis religiosos que es troben durant el trajecte. L’emoció acumulada i el dolor de la partença indiquen que probablement es tracta del comiat definitiu d’un condemnat a mort.«Comiat de Vic» forms part of the collection of popular songs that Jacint Verdaguer sent to his learned Mallorcan friend Marià Aguiló. The words of the song mark a route through the city that mentions the religious buildings found along the way. The accumulated emotion and the pain of departure indicate that is probably the final farewell of someone sentenced to death

Effects of the Colombia Peace negotiation process on gross domestic product per capita

This article attempts to determine whether the peace negotiation process initiated in Colombia that culminated with the Peace Treaty in 2016 had a positive economic effect, using the National Gross Domestic Product per capita as a measure. We apply a synthetic control method that is appropriate for a policy evaluation. Considering the anticipated and realized effects on economic variables, our results suggest that the Peace Treaty has positively influenced gross domestic product per capita. Furthermore, this positive effect has been maintained through 2021, the last available year of data. Data to 2021 show post‐pandemic Colombia is better off when compared with a hypothetical Colombia—or synthetic Colombia—that did not begin a peace negotiation process

The impact of digitalisation on remittances. Evidence from El Salvador

This paper carries out a microeconomic analysis of the determinants of remittances from a receiving perspective in El Salvador. Specifically, using data from the ‘Encuesta de Hogares de Propósitos Múltiples of 2016’ (2016 Multi-purpose Household Survey -EHPM16), the characteristics of households that affect the reception of remittances in El Salvador in 2016 were analysed, focusing on the level of digitalisation in households. Determinants of remittances are not everlasting and are affected by social and economic changes. In this sense, the effect on remittances caused by an increase in the widespread use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is not an exception. Based on a two steps selection model, the results point out that the household's level of digitalisation significantly increases the probability of receiving remittances, not their amount

Fertility patterns in the Roma population of Spain

The Spanish Roma population have co-existed with the broader population of Spain, under the same laws and regulations for more than 500 years, but they exhibit very different fertility patterns. The aim of this paper is to determine whether there are factors other than income or education that can explain the larger number of children in Spanish Roma families. Our analysis reveals that the existence of a family business, which is highly labor-demanding, appears to be associated with parental decisions concerning the number of children. Since parental authority, in Roma families, holds sway over children even after their own marriage, the future labor contributions of children are particularly beneficial to the family business