Life Out of the Shadows: the Impacts of Regularization Programs on the Lives of Forced Migrants

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Ibanez, Ana Maria; Moya, Andres; Ortega, Maria Adelaida; Rozo, Sandra, V; Urbina, Maria Jose
• 署名单位: Inter-American Development Bank; Universidad de los Andes (Colombia); University of California System; University of California Davis; The World Bank
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1542-4766
• DOI: 10.1093/jeea/jvae044
• 发表日期: 2024
• 关键词: labor-market outcomes; legal status; immigrant legalization; consumption; amnesty

摘要

We examine the well-being effects of a regularization program offered to half a million Venezuelan forced migrants in Colombia. We collected data on more than 2000 such migrants and compared the well-being of those who arrived in Colombia before and after the date that defined program eligibility. Since this date was announced ex-post and was unknown to the public, we could credibly evaluate the program's impact. We find that program beneficiaries experienced large improvements in well-being, including consumption per capita (a gain of 48%), monthly labor income (an increase of 22%), and health status (an increment of 1.2 standard deviations). These positive outcomes largely stemmed from improved access to services, particularly the social protection system, subsidized healthcare system, and financial services. We also find that the fiscal costs incurred by the Colombian government for a regularized migrant household are lower than those for an irregular migrant household.