ABSTRACT

Two questions dominate research on migration and health-the health selection question, which seeks to learn the direction of selection on health across different migration streams; and the health change question, which seeks to learn whether health improves or deteriorates in the destination country. To address these questions, this chapter explores the theoretical framework for studying selection, examines the empirical challenges, and summarizes recent estimates of health selection and health change. The two questions represent the health-focused expression of the first two of the four central

questions in the study of migration:

1 What are the migrant’s characteristics and behavior at entry? 2 How do the migrant’s characteristics and behavior change with time in the destination

country? 3 What are the characteristics and behavior of the children of immigrants? 4 What are the impacts on the origin and destination countries?