Scale effects in international migration to the United States

This study concerns regional variability in flows of international migration to the United States. Specifically, the author focuses on "the geographic concentration of flows by examining the variation in the characteristics of the flows to the largest immigrant states. The flows are analysed by country of origin and by age, skill levels and labour force participation. The paper also examines flows at a finer scale to counties within the largest receiving state, California. Just as across states in the United States, the variations across counties within California create disproportionate effects on particular localities. The paper documents the range of regional and local variation and argues that the scale effects are likely to increase because future flows are more likely to be dominated by network flows than by employment opportunities." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)