Giovanni Peri

Description: Giovanni Peri is a Professor of Economics and the Director of the Global Migration Center at UC Davis as well as a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research analyzes human migration from a social, economic, legal, and demographic perspective, as well as highlighting the human side of migration. He sits on the editorial board of several academic journals in Economics, has published for top media outlets, and received grants from international organizations such as the World Bank and the National Science Foundation. In this episode we talk about the reasons people migrate, what factors lead to a successful migration, and the role of immigration in American culture.

Website: Giovanni Peri

Global Migration Center: Website, Research, Policy Briefs, Events

Internship Opportunities: Email: globalmigration@ucdavis.edu

Book Recommendations: Streets of Gold & The Gift of Global Talent

Show Notes:

[0:10] Peri’s story & background information

[3:10] About Peri’s research and Global Migration Center

[6:00] Putting stories behind data of immigrants

[7:10] Why do people migrate  

[9:05] How climate change is impacting migration and agriculture

[15:40] Migrants' role in the U.S. labor markets

[19:30] U.S. immigration policy, issues, and potential fixes 

[23:40] Immigrants’ impact on American culture

[29:25] What factors impact migrant integration

[31:55] What are remittances and the role they play in a country’s economy

[35:30] Why do European immigrants struggle more to integrate vs. the U.S. immigrant

[37:35] Impact of foreign students on U.S. universities

[40:50] Illegal immigration, the southern U.S. border, and how to improve the situation

[47:50] Peri’s publishing process between academic journals, media outlets, and policy briefs

[52:30] How failure has played a role in his career

[56:00] Wrapping up and advice for students