Spatial dependence in asylum migration

Barthel, Fabian and Neumayer, Eric ORCID: 0000-0003-2719-7563 (2015) Spatial dependence in asylum migration. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 41 (7). pp. 1131-1151. ISSN 1369-183X

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Abstract

Existing refugees in a destination country from the same source country reduce the uncertainty faced by subsequent asylum migrants since existing refugees can provide information and assistance. We argue that such network effects extend beyond the borders of specific source countries. Potential asylum migrants might also be able to draw on networks from geographically proximate as well as linguistically similar countries and from countries having previously been colonized by the same destination country, thus creating spatial dependence in asylum migration among source countries. Many destination countries meanwhile aspire to reduce the inflow of migrants by tightening their asylum policies. Target countries which restrict their policies relatively more than other destinations deflect some asylum migrants to geographically proximate destination countries, thus creating spatial dependence among target countries. We find evidence for both types of spatial dependence in our global analysis of asylum migration. However, while statistically significant, the degree of spatial dependence among target countries is modest. On the source side, there is evidence for modest spatial dependence among linguistically similar countries and no evidence for spatial dependence among countries which were previously colonized by the same destination country. By contrast, we find substantial spatial dependence among geographically proximate source countries

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cjms20#.VjCQTF9FBu0
Additional Information:	© 2014 Taylor & Francis
Divisions:	Geography & Environment
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration J Political Science > JZ International relations
JEL classification:	F - International Economics > F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business > F22 - International Migration J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J15 - Economics of Minorities and Races; Non-labor Discrimination
Date Deposited:	27 Oct 2015 16:07
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2024 04:42
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/64187

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