This text investigates the core economic mechanisms that drive international migration and the subsequent impact of these movements on labor markets. George Borjas and Barry Chiswick, both prominent scholars in the field of labor economics, synthesize decades of empirical research to establish a framework for understanding why individuals migrate and how their skills integrate into host economies. The book evaluates the interplay between wage differentials, migration costs, and the selection processes that determine the composition of immigrant populations.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the economic incentives and outcomes associated with human mobility. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for graduate-level students and professional economists.