Measuring Economic and Social Impacts of Migration in Colombia: New evidence

Mauricio Cardenas, Carlos Medina and Andrés Trejos ()

No 6986, Borradores de Economia from Banco de la Republica

Abstract: This paper analyses a comprehensive dataset on migration using robust econometric methodologies to assess a range of economic and social impacts of migration on individuals and households left behind. Our findings indicate that there is no significant impact on labour force participation in households with migrants, but remittances do appear to have a negative effect on labour force participation. Migration (either absent or returned) increases total per capita expenditure by nearly US$35 per month while households that receive remittances increase per capita expenditures by US$49 per month on average. Expenditures in health and education also increase. However, there is no effect on school attendance, while individuals living in a household with an absent migrant are almost 4 per cent less likely to state that their health is good. Households with migration experience are around 8 per cent less likely to keep their immediate families together, with this effect particularly pronounced in the sub-group of households with return migrants. Our policy recommendations emphasize the importance of family reunification, and issue that deserves more decisive policy actions on the part of the Colombian government.

Keywords: International Migration; Remittances; Program Evaluation. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F20 F22 F24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 55
Date: 2010-05-13
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lam, nep-mig and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Measuring Economic and Social Impacts of Migration in Colombia: New evidence (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:col:000094:006986

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