Are immigrants favorably self-selected?

This paper has explored the conceptual issues regarding the selectivity of migrants. The analysis indicates a tendency toward the favorable self-selection (supply) of migrants for labor-market success on the basis of a higher level of ability, broadly defined. The favorable selectivity is more intense the greater the out-of-pocket (direct) costs of migration and return migration, the greater the effect of ability on lowering the costs of migration, and the smaller the relative skill differentials in the lower-wage origin relative to the higher-wage destination. Favorable selectivity for labor-market success can be expected to be less intense for noneconomic migrants, such as refugees, tied movers, and ideological migrants, and for sojourners (short-term migrants) and illegal aliens. The analysis in this paper applies only to the supply of immigrants and not to observed outcomes. The determinants of the demand for immigrants are also relevant for international migration, as all nation states have selection criteria for whom they will admit. The overall favorable selectivity of immigrants therefore depends on the favorable selectivity of the supply of immigrants and the criteria used to ration admissions.