Modeling Individual Migration Decisions

We summarize recent research that formulates life cycle models of migration which are estimated using longitudinal data. These models consider multiple destinations and multiple periods. The framework offers a unified view applicable to internal and international migration flows, however data limitations severely hinder studies of international migration. As is common in modeling life cycle decision–making, strong assumptions are imposed. Yet, most critical assumptions are empirically testable. The primary advantage is that these models offer an interpretable economic framework for evaluating policy alternatives and other counterfactual thought–experiments that offer insight on behavioral determinants and tools for improved policy making.