Migration, trade, and development: Comparing Mexico-US and Turkey-Europe

Abstract

Migration was the major relationship between Mexico and the US and Turkey and Western Europe for most of the past half century. Changes in both migrant-sending and –receiving countries aimed to substitute trade for migration. Mexico and Turkey have had roller-coaster economic growth trajectories, sometimes growing faster than other OECD countries and sometimes shrinking faster. There have been significant changes in Mexico and Turkey but, until more formal-sector jobs are created, especially young people leaving agriculture or joining the labour market may be candidates for migration.