Olatz Román Blanco (European University Institute)

Olatz Román Blanco 
European University Institute

Abstract

This paper studies how joint geographic constraints induced by partners’ occupations influence couples’ migration decisions. Using novel measures of geographic concentration and overlap of occupations, I find that highly concentrated occupations significantly limit couples’ ability to relocate, although this is mitigated by the geographic overlap of partners’ occupations. Additionally, I explore gender differences in occupational choices, showing that women, particularly college educated women, have increasingly selected into more geographically concentrated occupations. A shift-share decomposition reveals that the sharp decline in couple migration over the last few decades is primarily due to changes in migration patterns within different couple types rather than shifts in their composition.

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