Migration and the Value of Social Networks

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Blumenstock, Joshua E.; Chi, Guanghua; Tan, Xu
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Berkeley; University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMIC STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6527
• DOI: 10.1093/restud/rdad113
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 97-128
• 关键词: labor-market outcomes; self-selection; information networks; community networks; internal migration; determinants; patterns; refugees; outflows; ECONOMY

摘要

How do social networks influence the decision to migrate? Prior work suggests two distinct mechanisms that have historically been difficult to differentiate: as a conduit of information, and as a source of social and economic support. We disentangle these mechanisms using a massive digital trace dataset that allows us to observe the migration decisions made by millions of individuals over several years, as well as the complete social network of each person in the months before and after migration. These data allow us to establish a new set of stylized facts about the relationship between social networks and migration. Our main analysis indicates that the average migrant derives more social capital from interconnected networks that provide social support than from extensive networks that efficiently transmit information.