Globalization and Inequality - Trinity College Dublin

any have calculated the changing responsiveness of migration to migration incentives over time. An
exception is Hatton and Williamson (2001), which compares African (intra-continental) migration
elasticities with the (inter-continental) elasticities obtaining in late 19 th century Europe, and finds little
difference between the two periods. More work along these lines is required before we can make
definitive statements about trends in labour market integration over time.
Mass migration will have the greatest impact on between-country equality if it transfers
population from poor to rich countries. In the late 19 th century, migration was clearly of this form,
since Europe was significantly poorer than the New World; however, emigration was initially higher
from the richer European regions, with the poorer southern and eastern regions only becoming
involved with a lag. Something similar appears to have taken place in the late 20 th century (Chiswick
and Hatton 2001). For example, the share of DC migrants in total US immigration rose from 50%
in the 1960s, to 63% in the 1970s, 86% in the 1980s, and 80% in the early 1990s (Zlotnik 1999,
Table 3). Similar trends are apparent in Canada, Australia and Europe (where migration from
Eastern Europe has increased over time). Thus, in both periods mass migration was increasingly
involving poorer countries, and thus potentially making a bigger contribution to convergence; the big
question for the 21 st century is to what extent will Africa begin participating in mass, intercontinental
migration (Hatton and Williamson 2001).
The impact of migration on within-country inequality largely depends on the skill mix, as was
suggested above. In the late 19 th century, migration predominantly involved young, unskilled adults,
with very high labour force participation rates; it thus had a large potential impact on inequality,
lowering it in Europe and raising it in the New World. As the late 20 th century progressed, the
picture became increasingly similar, at least for the US: the skill profile of immigrants, relative to the
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