Taken by Storm: Hurricanes, Migrant Networks, and U.S. Immigration

Parag Mahajan and Dean Yang

No 23756, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: How readily do potential migrants respond to increased returns to migration? Even if origin areas become less attractive vis-à-vis migration destinations, fixed costs can prevent increased migration. We examine migration responses to hurricanes, which reduce the attractiveness of origin locations. Restricted-access U.S. Census data allows precise migration measures and analysis of more migrant-origin countries. Hurricanes increase U.S. immigration, with the effect increasing in the size of prior migrant stocks. Large migrant networks reduce fixed costs by facilitating legal immigration from hurricane-affected source countries. Hurricane-induced immigration can be fully accounted for by new legal permanent residents (“green card” holders).

JEL-codes: F22 O15 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env, nep-int, nep-lma, nep-mig and nep-ure
Note: DEV LS
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

Published as Parag Mahajan & Dean Yang, 2020. "Taken by Storm: Hurricanes, Migrant Networks, and US Immigration," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, vol 12(2), pages 250-277.

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Related works:
Journal Article: Taken by Storm: Hurricanes, Migrant Networks, and US Immigration (2020)
Working Paper: Taken by Storm: Hurricanes, Migrant Networks, and U.S. Immigration (2017)
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