Internal migration and the unemployment in Germany: an Anglo-Irish perspective

The paper analyzes the effect on the migration rate of a number of labour market variables; in particular, relative wage levels and growth rates, and the relative unemployment rates in the home and foreign country. We study the Ireland-U.K. migration rate and use the estimates to predict migration between the two parts of unified Germany. We conclude that magnitudes of unemployment differences and wage differentials are such that currently observed substantial migration flows will not slow down for the foreseeable future.