Out of sight, out of mind? The education outcomes of children with parents working abroad.

This paper studies the impact of short-term migratory movements by parents on the educational outcomes of teenagers in a region of Poland. Using survey and administrative data for lower secondary pupils, the empirical approach exploits variation in emigration within families over time. Estimates suggest that parental employment abroad has small, positive or no impact on pupils' grades, depending on circumstances surrounding the migration experience. Parental education, family situation, the economic environment and duration of the migratory spell are pivotal to outcomes. No negative effects are found, which contradicts the general public opinion in Poland that migration is detrimental to children's education.