Introduction

This issue brings together economists, sociologists, and historians in the study of migration and labor markets. The editors of the journal have turned the authors into unwitting collaborators, and in that sense these articles stand on their own. But one of the pleasures of being involved in the editorial process of an interdisciplinary journal is the opportunity it provides for drawing meaningful connections in the scholarship of diverse fields. We linked these separate contributions because together they help reconstruct the social and economic systems that channeled human migration. Each author makes important contributions to his respective field. Combined, their efforts illustrate what can be gained through the interdisciplinary nature of social science methodology.