Social Learning along International Migrant Networks

Yuan Tian, Maria Esther Caballero and Brian Kovak

No 27679, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We document the transmission of social distancing practices from the United States to Mexico along migrant networks during the early 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Using data on pre-existing migrant connections between Mexican and U.S. locations and mobile-phone tracking data revealing social distancing behavior, we find larger declines in mobility in Mexican regions whose emigrants live in U.S. locations with stronger social distancing practices. We rule out confounding pre-trends and use a variety of controls and an instrumental variables strategy based on U.S. stay-at-home orders to rule out the potential influence of disease transmission and migrant sorting between similar locations. Given this evidence, we conclude that our findings represent the effect of information transmission between Mexican migrants living in the U.S. and residents of their home locations in Mexico. Our results demonstrate the importance of personal connections when policymakers seek to change fundamental social behaviors.

JEL-codes: D83 F22 I12 J61 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mig, nep-soc and nep-ure
Note: DEV EH ITI
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Published as Yuan Tian & Maria Esther Caballero & Brian K. Kovak, 2022. "Social learning along international migrant networks," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, vol 195, pages 103-121.

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Journal Article: Social learning along international migrant networks (2022)
Working Paper: Social Learning along International Migrant Networks (2020)
Working Paper: Social learning along international migrant networks (2020)
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