In this paper, I use a unique survey on illegal immigrants apprehended in Italy to investigate migrants expected wages at the intended destination. The results show that – taking into account individual׳s human capital – a large part of immigrants overestimate the wage they could earn in Italy. We find that expected wages are positively affected by migration network and previous experience. When migrating within a network, skilled migrants do not expect higher wages compared to unskilled ones probably anticipating the ‘skill waste’ associated with the illegal status.
Wage expectations of illegal immigrants: The role of networks and previous migration experience / Hoxhaj, R. - In: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS. - ISSN 2110-7017. - 142:(2015), pp. 136-151. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inteco.2014.10.002]
Wage expectations of illegal immigrants: The role of networks and previous migration experience
HOXHAJ R
2015-01-01
Abstract
In this paper, I use a unique survey on illegal immigrants apprehended in Italy to investigate migrants expected wages at the intended destination. The results show that – taking into account individual׳s human capital – a large part of immigrants overestimate the wage they could earn in Italy. We find that expected wages are positively affected by migration network and previous experience. When migrating within a network, skilled migrants do not expect higher wages compared to unskilled ones probably anticipating the ‘skill waste’ associated with the illegal status.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.


