Displacement Due to Violence in Colombia: A Household-Level Analysis

Stefanie Engel and Ana Maria Ibáñez ()

Economic Development and Cultural Change, 2007, vol. 55, issue 2, pages 335-65

Abstract: Civil wars and ethnic conflicts have resulted in an estimated number of approximately 35 million refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide. Understanding the determinants of forced migration is an important prerequisite for the definition of appropriate policies of prevention, assistance, and relocation. We develop a conceptual framework for the empirical analysis of displacement decisions at the household level. While similarities to conventional migration theories exist, there are also important differences implied by the presence of violent conflict. For example, risk aversion and lack of information may hamper conventional migration but enhance displacement. Factors such as landholdings and social capital at the place of origin may not only reduce displacement in the conventional sense of raising opportunity costs but may also spur displacement indirectly by increasing the household's likelihood of becoming the victim of direct threats. For the case of Colombia, we conduct an econometric analysis of the determinants of displacement and of direct threats. We conclude with policy recommendations and directions for further research.

View citations in EconPapers

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/EDCC/order1.html

Access Statistics for this article

Economic Development and Cultural Change is edited by John Strauss

More articles in Economic Development and Cultural Change from University of Chicago Press
Address: The University of Chicago Press, Journals Division, P.O. Box 37005 Chicago, IL 60637
Series data maintained by Christopher F. Baum ().