I guess this is a question for Mark K.

One of the points I often like to make is that the most surefire way to stem the tide of illegal immigration is to make immigrant exporting poor countries rich. If Mexico offered more economic opportunity, poor Mexicans would opt to stay home more often. Immigration from southern and Eastern Europe isn’t that big a problem anymore due in large — but not exclusive — part to the fact that economic hardships are not so bad as to make leaving home seem worthwhile.

Anyway, assuming I’m right, I was wondering if there’s any data on where the tipping point is here. Is there something like a Kuznet’s curve for emmigration? When per capita income or purchasing power reaches X, do poor laborers suddenly stay home? I used to be much more up to speed on this sort of thing. But I’m sure there’s been piles more research in the last few years.

Just curious.