Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/215196 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12800
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We analyze self-selection of refugees and irregular migrants and test our theory in the context of the European refugee crisis. Using unique datasets from the International Organization for Migration and Gallup World Polls, we provide the first large-scale evidence on reasons to emigrate, and the self-selection and sorting of refugees and irregular migrants. Refugees and female irregular migrants are positively self-selected with respect to human capital, while male irregular migrants are negatively self-selected. These patterns are similar when analyzing individually stated main reason to emigrate, country-level conflict intensity, and sub-regional conflict intensity. Migrants respond to economic incentives and border policies.
Subjects: 
international migration
refugees
irregular migrants
self-selection
human capital
gender differences in migration
JEL: 
F22
J15
J16
J24
O15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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