Citation

Discussion Paper Details

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Title: Migrants and the Making of America: The Short and Long Run Effects of Immigration during the Age of Mass Migration

Author(s): Nathan Nunn, Nancy Qian and Sandra Sequeira

Publication Date: March 2017

Keyword(s): economic development, historical persistence and Immigration

Programme Area(s): Development Economics

Abstract: We study the effects of European immigration to the United States during the Age of Mass Migration (1850-1920) on economic prosperity today. We exploit variation in the extent of immigration across counties arising from the interaction of fluctuations in aggregate immigrant flows and the gradual expansion of the railway network across the United States. We find that locations with more historical immigration today have higher incomes, less poverty, less unemployment, higher rates of urbanization, and greater educational attainment. The long-run effects appear to arise from the persistence of sizeable short-run benefits, including greater industrialization, increased agricultural productivity, and more innovation.

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Bibliographic Reference

Nunn, N, Qian, N and Sequeira, S. 2017. 'Migrants and the Making of America: The Short and Long Run Effects of Immigration during the Age of Mass Migration'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=11899