Does migration lead to poverty resolution? A longitudinal analysis of movers versus non-movers

The thesis develops three propositions regarding labor market outcomes derived from an application of segmented labor market tenets to migration outcomes for the poor. Based on a Principal Component Analysis of occupational characteristics and working conditions grounded in segmented labor market principles the thesis develops a unique interval-scaled measure of occupational levels. Employing a hierarchical modeling approach to longitudinal data the thesis tests the propositions that were developed. Twenty-three years of Panel Study of Income Dynamics data was used to develop a nine-year income growth trajectory for every individual included in the study.; An individual who met all of the following selection criteria was selected as a sample subject: (a) individuals who were household heads for at least a period of ten years; (b) were between the ages of 21 and 44 at the start of the study period; (c) were not full-time students during the ten-year span were the focus of the study; and (d) had household incomes that was less than 200% of the poverty threshold level in at least one of three years prior to migration including the migration year.; The thesis compares the income growth trajectory of those who migrated against those that did not migrate. The thesis supports the first proposition pertaining to the short-term hypothesis. As proposed results suggest that those who migrate reap considerable rewards in the short-term. While in the long-term, as proposed, results indicate that one-time migrants experience a substantial fall in their income growths—by 33% as opposed to non-migrants who have a steady income growth of 0.07 units in the short and in the long-term. Further, as postulated results suggest that repeat migration does indeed arrest income decline in the long run. Repeat migrants experience a decline of 12% as opposed to one-time migrants who have a decline from 0.21 units annual growth to 0.15 units annual growth.; Results do not support the third proposition of the dissertation regarding occupational levels. It was postulated that occupational level would have a greater impact in the long-term than in the short-term and that occupational improvement than migration would lead poverty resolution. Results do not support this proposition. Occupational improvement was found to have equal impacts in the short and in the long-term. Economic growth of a metropolitan area was found to have weak impact. Higher education, on average over time, tended to lead to higher income levels. Gender and Race have significant baseline impacts and also have significant impact on the baseline impact on income growths. That is, men and whites had not only significant higher incomes at the baseline but these higher baseline incomes contributed to higher growth rates also. The growth rates were not adjusted for gender and racial impact.