A global model of migration and poverty

Most rich nations maintain very tight restrictions on immigration despite widespread globalisation since World War II. This paper breaks new ground by assessing these barriers' poverty implications, using a two-region, one-sector, dynastic growth model with a continuum of skills. Like other global studies of migration, I find that rich nation immigration impediments impose huge losses on the global economy. I also find that such barriers increase global poverty by 40% or more. This corroborates a conclusion drawn by others: opening rich nations to freer immigration could reduce poverty more than any other single policy shift.