As
a labor economist, I apply principles of labor, perspectives and
frameworks while I employ econometric techniques to carefully derive
conclusions from sound data sources. My basic motive for research is to
choose topics of societal and policy relevance and answer questions
that can eventually improve the conditions of minority populations, the
marginalized and vulnerable, that they can add to our knowledge, and
can be useful to policymakers and the public. I am a strong believer of evidence-based policymaking.I have au(co)thored several papers that are directly related to important policy issues. My work on return migration and circular migration
has direct policy implications. In these papers I show that the
immigrants who return to their home countries are those who are
naturalized or have a permanent residency. Similarly, the circular
migrants are those who know that if situations change and economic
conditions are not good in the country they are, they are able to go
back to the other country. It is the immigrants who have a precarious
status in the host country who are more likely to stay, because they
know that if they leave they will not be able to go back to the host
country. My work on the ethnic identity of immigrants,
shows that immigrants who are “integrated,” meaning they are
confortable having both the home and host country identity and culture
are more like to work and be productive members of the labor market,
especially women. I have also done extensive research on self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Self-employment is often called the backbone of the economy, as small
and medium enterprises contribute to job creation much more than big
corporations. Immigrants are definitely involved and well represented
in self-employment is all countries and in most cases they earn more
than the paid-employed and their native counterparts. My work shows how
self-employment is related to the business cycle, and makes a case
about the importance of self-employment for economic growth and
innovation.My paper “Sizing it Up: Labor Migration Lessons of the EU Expansion to 27,”
(2012) reviews the achievements of the first five years of the EU27 and
assesses and evaluates the effectiveness of the enforced policies while
it identifies winner and losers. I show that the EU15 countries with
closed-door policy lost in high-skilled labor and their labor markets
experienced a delayed adjustment that overlapped with the global crisis
and exacerbated negativity. Another example of policy applications is
my work on the health of immigrants.
My papers find that there is a “healthy immigrant effect,” meaning that
when immigrants first arrive in the host country are more healthy than
comporable natives, but with additional time in the host country their
health deteriorates. The exception is the case of Israel, where I find
a “sick immigrant effect.” The explanation lies in the selection of
immigrants and the immigrantion policy of Israel that imposes no
barriers to Jews who want to go to Israel. My most recent work on happiness or wellbeing
is also important for policy. First, because happiness can be an
indication of a country’s high standards and socioeconomic status,
beyond GDP. Second, because governments can manipulate the happiness of
their citizens, third, bacause happiness is very much related to
economic growth and inequality, and fourth because of my findings. My
papers show that i. when the immigration rate increases, the happiness
of natives increases and ii. when ethnic diversity increases, the
happiness of natives increases. Lastly, my World of Labor article “Do
immigrants take the jobs of natives?” is the number two downloaded
article out of 300. In this paper I summarize the theory, present an
exhaustive literature review of the results for several countries and
go over the pros and cons of immigration. I
have also authored several policy papers and briefs that have been
topical, exmining current issues. For example, my policy paper “In the
Face of the Crisis: U.S. Presidential Elections from a Transnational
Viewpoint” in DIW-Wochenbericht (2008), was among the very first that
used Google activity data for research and emphasized the digital
economy. In this work, I examined the economic crisis and the US
elections. “Trade-race in Asia: The Free Trade Agreement between the
U.S. and the EU with South Korea” in DIW-Wochenbericht (2010), was a
paper a propos of the trade agreement and received praise by the Korean
Ambassador to Germany. Another policy brief I wrote about Cote d’Ivoire
(2011) looks at the first 100 days of the new government in power and
what the consequencies are (Surviving the Turbulence Is Not Enough; Can
Côte d’Ivoire Flourish Again?). In addition, a report I wrote for IOM
(2013) about how to improve access to labour market information for
migrants and employers in Germany was the first to examine the issue;
there was no prior literature. My paper about human capital in China
(Can China Win the Tug-of-War for Talents?) is related to development
issues in emerging countries. Over
the years, while an academician, researcher, and a professor I had the
privilege and the opportunity to meet in person and communicate with
policymakers and decision-makers in several countries. I also have
given talks, keynotes, and interviews at the World Bank, the ILO, the
IOM, etc. and I have had meetings with several members of the Council
of Economic Advisers and government officials at the BLS and the
department of labor. Below I highlight specific meetings with high
ranking policymakers. In
early 2006, I had a meeting with the then director of GAO, who had an
interest in learning about my work on the guestworkers in Germany and
the possible applications to a US guestworker system. We also discussed
the problems and goals of German and American immigration and
integration policies
In 2007, I was in a panel at the Capitol Hill talking about migration in “Securing Our Nation’s Future”
In
2007, at a conference in Brussels with ministers, the High
Commissioner, the President of the EU Commission, and members of the
High Level Group present, I presented my report on the social and labor
market integration of ethnic minorities
In
2008, at a lunchtime meeting in Berlin with the former German Minister
of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, I talked about
ethnic minorities in Germany and the EU and how to integrate and make
immigrants more productive
In
2007 and 2008, I gave lectures about the functioning of the European
labor markets at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State
In
2009 and 2010, I gave lectures to the USAID Program “International
Education on the US Non-Profits to Central Asian Countries”
In
2011, I presented at a symposium in Athens, GR, with Greek Ministers
present my paper “Prescription for Greece’s Exodus from the Current
Crisis”
In
2012, I presented “Youth Unemployment and Vocational Training” to the
Treasury in Wellington, NZ and talked about vocational training in
Germany as a successful instrument against youth unemployment
In
2014, I presented my report on Diasporas in the European Union and
United States, to the EU Commission and other policymakers in Brussels
In
2015, I participated in a policy meeting with the European Commission
in Brussels on migration and mobility, to present my research
In 2015, I joined the experts dinner with three parliamentarians in Brussels to discuss migration issues in Europe and Brexit
In
2015, in Dakar, Senegal, I had talks and meetings with the Secretary of
the Senegalese Diaspora about the challenges for African migration to
Europe. During the day-long symposium, I also had talks with the
Minister Adviser to the President of the Republic of Senegal for the
Francophonie, the former Minister for Women's, Children's and Family
Affairs of the Republic of Senegal, and the Representative of the
Migration and Development Project in Africa about the labor markets and
economic development
In
March 2016, I will be meeting with the Productivity Commission– that
provides independent research and advice to Government on economic,
social and environmental issues affecting the welfare of Australians –
in Canberra, Australia to discuss immigration issues and contribute to
their report