This paper, authored by Jacob Mincer and published as a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), explores the family context of migration decisions. The study emphasizes that migration is driven by net family gain rather than personal gain, focusing on the impact of family ties on the probability of migration, changes in employment and earnings of family members, and family stability. The analysis considers the effects of marital status, the presence of children, and the correlation between the gains from migration of spouses on family migration decisions. Key findings include: 1. **Marital Status**: Families tend to be less mobile than individuals, as the returns from migration decrease more for spouses with children compared to those without. 2. **Children**: The presence of school-age children inhibits family migration, while pre-school children may accelerate it. 3. **Correlation of Gains**: The correlation between the gains from migration of spouses affects the family's migration propensity, with lower correlation leading to higher mobility. 4. **Wife's Employment**: The employment status of wives significantly influences migration decisions, with higher employment rates leading to lower migration rates. 5. **Family Stability**: Migration can lead to marital instability, as the sum of ties (discrepancies between actual and maximum potential gains) can exceed the sum of gains from marriage, causing family dissolution. The paper also provides empirical evidence from various studies and data sources, including the U.S. Census Current Population Surveys and the National Longitudinal Survey (NLS). The findings highlight the complex interplay between personal and family decisions in migration, emphasizing the importance of considering family dynamics in economic analyses.This paper, authored by Jacob Mincer and published as a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), explores the family context of migration decisions. The study emphasizes that migration is driven by net family gain rather than personal gain, focusing on the impact of family ties on the probability of migration, changes in employment and earnings of family members, and family stability. The analysis considers the effects of marital status, the presence of children, and the correlation between the gains from migration of spouses on family migration decisions. Key findings include: 1. **Marital Status**: Families tend to be less mobile than individuals, as the returns from migration decrease more for spouses with children compared to those without. 2. **Children**: The presence of school-age children inhibits family migration, while pre-school children may accelerate it. 3. **Correlation of Gains**: The correlation between the gains from migration of spouses affects the family's migration propensity, with lower correlation leading to higher mobility. 4. **Wife's Employment**: The employment status of wives significantly influences migration decisions, with higher employment rates leading to lower migration rates. 5. **Family Stability**: Migration can lead to marital instability, as the sum of ties (discrepancies between actual and maximum potential gains) can exceed the sum of gains from marriage, causing family dissolution. The paper also provides empirical evidence from various studies and data sources, including the U.S. Census Current Population Surveys and the National Longitudinal Survey (NLS). The findings highlight the complex interplay between personal and family decisions in migration, emphasizing the importance of considering family dynamics in economic analyses.