Migrants at Sea: Unintended Consequences of Search and Rescue Operations

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Deiana, Claudio; Maheshri, Vikram; Mastrobuoni, Giovanni
• 署名单位: University of Cagliari; University of Houston System; University of Houston; Collegio Carlo Alberto; University of Turin; Centre for Economic Policy Research - UK
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-ECONOMIC POLICY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7731
• DOI: 10.1257/pol.20220014
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 335-365
• 关键词: asylum seekers; immigration; migration; refugees; Europe; border; POLICY; US

摘要

Many countries are facing and resisting strong migratory pressure, fueling irregular migration. In response to mounting deaths in the Central Mediterranean, European nations intensified rescue operations in 2013. We develop a model of irregular migration to identify the effects of these operations. We find that smugglers responded by sending boats in adverse weather and utilizing flimsy rafts, thus inducing more crossings in dangerous conditions and ultimately offsetting intended safety benefits due to moral hazard. Despite the increased risk, these operations likely increased aggregate migrant welfare; nevertheless, a more successful policy should instead restrict supply of rafts and expand legal alternatives. ( JEL D82, J15, J18, K37, K42 )