Abstract

We identify internal migration flows between Chilean regions and analyse migrants’ economic mobility. A data pool from National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN) surveys was used to determine migrants’ economic position according to their income quintile. Internal migrants were matched with non-migrants of similar status from their region of origin to compare their economic mobility. Results show that the majority of internal migrants did not achieve economic advancement in the short and medium terms, which challenges the neoclassical and functionalist assumptions of a positive relationship between migration and social mobility. Finally, we identify three interregional elevators in Chile: the Austral, Norte Grande and Metropolitan macro-regions.