Invisible Outsiders: The Academic Achievement of Foreign-Born Children of Return Migrants

Abstract

Children of return migrants now constitute a large population globally, and yet we know little about their academic outcomes. This paper uses PISA test score data for 2012, 2015, and 2018 to characterize the academic achievement of foreign-born children of 3,480 return migrants in 72 birth countries and 43 countries of residence. It compares them to non-immigrants in their parents’ origin country as well as counterparts in children’s birth countries. Using meta-analytic and fixed effects models, it also examines how policies and features of countries are associated with outcomes. Results show that, on average, these children obtain lower PISA scores than local children in their parents' countries of birth as well as children of similar migrants in their countries of birth. However, results vary greatly by country. Children of return migrant groups with greater resources appear better able to excel academically.