Intertemporal changes in the antecedents of migration in 1990-2000 period: The case of Malaysia and Asia-Pacific countries

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of paper is to investigate and determine the intertemporal changes in linkages between migration (both emigration and immigration) and economic conditions in during 1990-2000 period.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employed cross-sectional analysis to investigate the relationship by employing data on immigration and emigration and as for economic condition the paper employed macro-variables such as real income differential (real gross domestic per capita), price level differential (consumer price index) and distance among the countries. Two different points of time were regressed cross-sectionally, with White standard being employed to remove traces of heterogeneity, albeit, 1990 and 2000.

Findings

Results clearly indicate that there are significant changes in terms of the relationship of chosen variables with migration over time. The results provide some evidence on the important role played by these variables in influencing migration throughout the period in question.

Research limitations/implications

Data covered is limited to 24 countries. The results from these countries alone are not sufficient to address the full impact of migration.

Originality/value

The study covers the traditional topic of migration with an econometric approach, with some empirical regression and findings.

Citation

Seong Ow, C., Hamid Baharom, A. and Shah Habibullah, M. (2014), "Intertemporal changes in the antecedents of migration in 1990-2000 period: The case of Malaysia and Asia-Pacific countries", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 41 No. 4, pp. 266-277. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-07-2012-0133