Selective migration, human capital, and the geography of development

A special note of gratitude goes to my supervisor, Frédéric Docquier, whose guidance, expertise, and unwavering support have been instrumental throughout this journey. Frédéric, thank you for taking on a somewhat unruly supervisee who would drop by your office twice a week, often without regard for your singularly busy schedule. I certainly needed those frequent discussions to stay on track. I truly appreciate the independence you gave me to explore the questions that piqued my interest, and I don't take for granted the delicate balance you had to strike between these two objectives. Our conversations have profoundly shaped both this thesis and my personal growth. Gratitude to Joël Machado, my co-supervisor, for tirelessly reading and rereading every chapter of my dissertation. We have had countless discussions, from framing ideas to refining model structures. Joël, I have benefited immensely from your constant support. Beyond the academic scope, it would be shameful of me not to acknowledge your incredible patience in listening to my lunchtime diatribes. You will never get those minutes of your life back, and that is entirely my fault. I warmly thank Michel Beine, member of my doctoral committee for his review i and comments on my work. I would also like to specially thank Clément Imbert and Klaus Desmet for their insightful comments and suggestions on this dissertation. I am also grateful to Martín Fernandez-Sanchez for his valuable comments and advice during the course of this thesis. I also thank my colleagues within the Crossing Borders Unit including Etienne Bacher, Felix Stips, Lucas Magalhaes, Julio Garbers for their continuous support and comments. My deepest gratitude goes to my wife, Juliette, and my children, Nolan and Brunelle, for their tireless support and understanding of my hectic work schedule throughout this dissertation journey.