Final answer:
Beneficiaries of geographical relocation for work purposes include both businesses, which may receive incentives to relocate, and individuals, particularly immigrants, who move for employment opportunities and potentially better wages. Workers in locationally constrained industries also benefit from higher wages due to the difficulty of relocating those industries. However, the benefits are not uniformly distributed, as evidenced by ongoing wage gaps and variations in employment gains.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Silberstein (1992) and Goldenberg and Goldenberg (2008), the main beneficiaries of geographical relocation for work purposes can vary depending on the context. In the case of industrialized countries offering more economic opportunities, the relocation often benefits immigrants seeking employment, as they may move from regions with fewer job prospects to those with greater possibilities. However, firms also benefit from relocation when governments provide incentives, and employees can gain in the form of better wages and employment opportunities.
Factors such as selective migration also play a role, with individuals relocating to regions that suit their personality traits and needs, which can indirectly benefit the region due to the compatibility of the inhabitants with their location. Moreover, workers in industries with significant location constraints tend to receive higher wages than those in more mobile industries, as relocating such operations is not feasible. Thus, employees in these industries also gain significant benefits from being in a particularly favorable geographic position.
However, it should be noted that while immigrants can find more jobs, this sometimes comes with declining earnings, and while better employment opportunities are available in certain fields, there still exists a gender wage gap as indicated by U.S. Census statistics. Therefore, while relocation might provide benefits, it doesn't equally benefit all groups.