Dr Sandra Sequeira (LSE): Migrants and the Making of America

Dr Sandra Sequeira (LSE) will present on "Migrants and the Making of America: the Short and Long-Run Effects of Immigration during the Age of Mass Migration" at this seminar organised by the UCL SSEES Centre for Comparative Studies of Emerging Economies.

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 have higher incomes, less poverty, less unemployment, higher rates of urbanization, and greater educational attainment today. The long-run effects appear to arise from the persistence of sizeable short-run benefits, including greater industrialization, increased agricultural productivity, and more innovation.

All Welcome to attend, no registration necessary.