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on Economics of Human Migration |
| By: | Mélanie Gittard (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) |
| Abstract: | Since 2000, Kenya has experienced an increase in the frequency of droughts, significantly affecting agriculture and driving labor force migration. This paper investigates strategic migration patterns among farmers and pastoralists in response to repetitive droughts. I use fine-grained data that enables the capture of shortdistance migration and heterogeneity, combining satellite-based data on daily rainfalls (CHIRPS) with exhaustive censuses from 1989, 1999, and 2009. I use a two-way fixed-effect model to exploit the spatial variation in drought frequency across 2, 518 sub-locations, comparing their demographic growth according to the number of dryrainy seasons over each decade. First, I show that increased drought frequency triggers out-migration, as one additional drought decreases demographic growth by 1.7 p.p, equivalent to a 1% population decline. This result is consistent within the [15; 65] age group, excluding other demographic effects and confirming migration as the driving factor. The main contribution of this paper is the identification of different migration strategies across livelihoods. Rural areas dominated by pastoral activities experience significant out-migration, leading to a rural-rural shift from pastoral to agriculture-oriented regions. Herders' migration displays little heterogeneity, suggesting the migration of entire households and consistent with migration as a last resort. Agricultural rural areas are less vulnerable to drought and display significant heterogeneity. The results show the migration of the most educated individuals in the working age, while uneducated individuals are trapped in affected areas. This paper highlights the importance of using detailed data to understand diverse migration strategies, thereby facilitating the implementation of effective policies. |
| Keywords: | Kenya, Droughts, Migration, Population, Census data |
| Date: | 2024–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:ciredw:halshs-04685409 |
| By: | Liming Yao; Zou Jing; Wang Baitao |
| Abstract: | The discussion on the return intentions of migrants and its influencing factors has been widely discussed. Existing research indicates that factors such as economic status, household registration status, identity recognition, and urban integration can largely influence the willingness of rural migrants to return home. Additionally, with the development of the digital economy, engaging in entrepreneurship has also to some extent encouraged rural migrants to go back home. Considering the rapid increase in housing prices in China over the past decade, issues related to housing affordability have undoubtedly become factors prompting rural migrants’ return intention. Considering rural migrants are more disadvantaged in receiving housing assistance in residing cities, housing difficulties, especially housing affordability issues are therefore further accelerating their willingness to return home. However, many existing studies on housing affordability focus on the nation as a whole, with little attention on disadvantaged groups such as rural migrants. Therefore, this paper integrates the issues of housing difficulties with the return intentions of rural migrants, exploring how housing difficulties have impacted their willingness to return home using China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) 2017 data. Two variables were constructed to measure housing difficulties: subjective and objective housing difficulties. Subjective housing difficulties were determined through survey questions asking whether migrants experience housing difficulties. Housing affordability ratio is adopted to evaluate the subjective housing difficulties encountered by migrants. We used the macro house prices data on the residing cities and the micro household income included in the survey to calculate the house price to income ratio. Based on the international threshold, the housing price-to-income ratio higher than 3 is considered to have objective housing difficulties. We investigated the impact of subjective and objective housing difficulties on rural migrants’ return intention. Using a probit and IV Probit model, our research evidenced a negative relationship between subjective housing difficulties and return intention. Self-reporting housing difficulties didn’t really increase the likelihood of returning home, because this variable was often influenced by individual risk preferences. While it is evidenced that objective housing difficulties have positive impact on return intention. Specifically, the higher the house price to income ratio, the higher likelihood of returning home. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the relationship between objective and subjective housing difficulties and the return intention of migrants varies across different levels of economic development in residing cities, educational achievement, and age group. |
| Keywords: | Housing Affordability; IV probit; Return intention; Rural migrants |
| JEL: | R3 |
| Date: | 2024–01–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arz:wpaper:eres2024-118 |
| By: | Maria Rosaria Carillo (University of Naples Parthenope); Tiziana Venittelli (University of Naples Parthenope and GLO); Alberto Zazzaro (University of Naples Federico II, CSEF and MoFiR.) |
| Abstract: | We study the impact of a racial attack in 2008 by a local Camorra clan against the African community near Naples on the social identity of African immigrants. We find that in Naples and in other municipalities where the degree of insecurity was high or where there was a strong public backlash in Italian civil society against racism and violence, Africans’ identification with Italy strengthened after the massacre, while in other municipalities it weakened. This heightened identification with Italy is persistent over time and is not accompanied by a weakening of ethnic identity. |
| Keywords: | Immigrants’ identity; Racial discrimination; Hate-Crimes; Collective backlash, Cultural integration. |
| JEL: | J15 R23 Z13 |
| Date: | 2024–07–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sef:csefwp:727 |
| By: | Domiziana Turcatti; Jasmin Rostron |
| Abstract: | This discussion paper contributes to the understanding of how migrants collectively organise to cope with new crises by examining how London's Latin American community mobilised to address the impact of Covid-19. We draw on fieldwork conducted between June 2020 and June 2023 for three projects: (1) a doctoral study exploring the experiences of 51 Colombian parents who onward migrated from Spain to London after the 2008 crisis; (2) a participatory research project on the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit on 73 Latin Americans in London; and (3) a mixed-methods evaluation of an initiative established by a London-based Latin American charity during the peak of the pandemic to reduce barriers to healthcare. We identified three main types of Latin American-led community responses to mitigate the impact of the pandemic: (1) the re-adaptation of existing services provided by Latin American charities to meet community needs during and post-Covid-19; (2) the formation of new voluntary groups to address the immediate and short-term impacts of the pandemic; and (3) the mobilisation of advocacy groups and researchers to raise awareness about the inequalities faced by Latin Americans during Covid-19. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates that new crises (re)produce both vulnerability and agency among migrant communities and highlights the key role that migrant-led community groups play in supporting migrants to access their rights in crisis situations. We conclude by emphasising the need to re-conceptualise migrants as both being positioned at the receiving end of crises and as agentic shapers of crises and their outcomes. |
| Keywords: | crises, Covid-19, Latin Americans, London, Migrant-led organisations, civil society |
| JEL: | I14 I18 |
| Date: | 2024–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nsr:niesrd:559 |