The selection of immigrants by skill and education is a central issue in the analysis of immigration. Since highly educated immigrants tend to be more successful in host country labour markets and less of a fiscal cost it is important to know what determines the skill-selectivity of immigration. In this paper the authors examine the...

Using a panel of 81 source countries for the years 1971 to 1998, this paper develops and estimates a model to explain the level and source country composition of immigration to the United States since the early 1970s. It includes variables so far neglected in existing work, examines more countries over a longer period than...