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Which Tongans move to New Zealand via the Pacific Assess Category quota, and how does it change their lives?

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Publication Year: 2010

Abstract

People migrate to improve their well-being, whether through an expansion of economic and social opportunities or a reduction in persecution. This seminar discusses the findings from a series of research papers that examine the impact of migration on socioeconomic and health outcomes for Tongans that migrate to New Zealand via the Pacific Access Category (PAC). The PAC allows a quota of Tongans to immigrate each year, with a random ballot used to choose amongst the excess number of applicants, allowing for the calculation of experimental estimates of the impact of migration. Included among the outcomes that will be discussed are income, subjective wellbeing, happiness, stress, mental health, blood pressure, hypertension, diet, and child anthropometrics.

Citation

Stillman, Steven. 2010. “Which Tongans move to New Zealand via the Pacific Assess Category quota, and how does it change their lives?” Wellington Public Policy Seminar, May.

Motu code: PPS1005

JEL codes: F22