Manila to Malaysia, Quezon to Qatar International Migration and Its Effects on Origin-Country Human Capital

Abstract

I estimate the effect of international migration on the human capital of children in the migrants’ origin country. Using administrative data containing all migrant departures from the Philippines, I exploit variation across provinces in destination-country demand for migrants. My estimates are at the local labor market level, allowing for spillovers to nonmigrant households. An average year-to-year percent increase in migration causes a 3.5 percent increase in secondary school enrollment. The effects are likely driven by increased income rather than an increased expected wage premium for education.