Informational Cascades and Decision to Migrate

Gil Epstein

No 445, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We introduce the idea that informational cascades can explain the observed regularity that emigrants from the same locations also tend to choose the same foreign locations. Thus informational cascades generate herd behavior. Herd behavior is compared with the network externalities explanation of the same phenomenon. The relation between social tensions and herd behavior is observed when local populations are xenophobic.

Keywords: informational cascades; Migration; network externalities; herd behavior; xenophobia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25 pages
Date: 2002-03
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

Published - published in: Gil S. Epstein and Ira N. Gang (eds.): Migration and Culture, Emerald Publishing, Bingley, 2010, 25-44

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Related works:
Working Paper: Informational Cascades and Decision to Migrate (2002)
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