Date of This Version
12-19-2017
Abstract
We examine the effect of climate change on fertility rates and human capital accumulation in developing countries, focusing on the instrumental role of migration. In particular, we investigate how climate-induced migration in developing countries will affect those who do not migrate. Holding all else constant, climate shocks raise the return to acquiring skills, because skilled individuals compared to unskilled ones have greater opportunity to migrate after the shock. In response to this change in incentives, parents choose to invest more in education and have less children, a process known as the ‘quantity-quality’ trade-off. These effects partially offset the damages of climate change, even for those who do not migrate.
Recommended Citation
Shayegh, Soheil and Casey, Greg P., "To Go or not to Go: Migration Alleviates Climate Damages even for Those Who Stay Behind" (December 19, 2017). Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers. Paper 1222.
https://services.bepress.com/feem/paper1222