Of Fathers and Sons: The Intergenerational Transfer of Return Premium in Children of Returnees.

Jose David Lopez Blanco , University Carlos III

In the rapidly evolving dynamics of global migration, return and temporary migration phenomena have become central subjects. Yet, while the impacts of return migration on origin countries have been debated, a significant research gap remains around the "return premium" and its potential intergenerational transfer. Our study delves into this uncharted territory, exploring the intergenerational social mobility of children born abroad or those who migrated and later returned with their parents. We propose two primary mechanisms that might facilitate this mobility: exposure to diverse human capital sources during schooling abroad and the intricacies of learned spatial mobility behaviors. Using data from SHARE, a representative survey across 13 European countries, we study the diverse trajectories of individuals and track migration histories meticulously. Notably, we link migrant parents to their children's data, focusing on education and social mobility, offering a novel insight into the shared characteristics of returning families. Our research promises to shed light on the multifaceted impacts of return migration, emphasizing its implications for both the migrants and their subsequent generations.

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 Presented in Session P3. Migration, Economics, Policies, History