Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66229 
Year of Publication: 
2012
Series/Report no.: 
University of Tübingen Working Papers in Economics and Finance No. 46
Publisher: 
University of Tübingen, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Tübingen
Abstract: 
This paper provides evidence that transnational networks, defined as networks operating across nationalities, are shaping observed patterns of international migration. In a stylized model of migration with random friendship formation, individuals from a given origin country are attracted to destinations hosting large migrant communities from countries which are culturally and geographically close to their own origin country. In addition, the attracting force of a large community of co-national migrants is the larger, the larger the community of migrants from other culturally proximate countries in the same destination. Both predictions are supported by aggregate migration data on international migration to Spain, detailed by origin country and destination province. Our findings imply that the literature estimating network effects in migration has been overly restrictive in its definition of migrant networks.
Subjects: 
International migration
Co-national and transnational friendships
Network effect
Spain
JEL: 
F22
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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