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The use of natural experiments in migration research

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  • Semih Tumen

    (Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

Estimating the causal effect of immigration on the labor market outcomes of native workers has been a major concern in the literature. Because immigrants decide whether and where to migrate, immigrant populations generally consist of individuals with characteristics that differ from those of a randomly selected sample. One solution is to focus on events such as civil wars and natural catastrophes that generate rapid and unexpected flows of refugees into a country unrelated to their personal characteristics, location, and employment preferences. These “natural experiments” yield estimates that find small negative effects on native workers’ employment but not on wages.

Suggested Citation

  • Semih Tumen, 2015. "The use of natural experiments in migration research," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 191-191, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2015:n:191
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Binnur Balkan & Semih Tumen, 2016. "Immigration and prices: quasi-experimental evidence from Syrian refugees in Turkey," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 29(3), pages 657-686, July.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tumen, Semih, 2021. "The effect of refugees on native adolescents’ test scores: Quasi-experimental evidence from PISA," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Alam, Ashraful & Dutta, Indranil & Haque, M. Emranul & Nogales, Ricardo, 2022. "Impact of Rohingya refugees on food prices in Bangladesh: Evidence from a natural experiment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Evren Ceritoglu & H. Burcu Gurcihan Yunculer & Huzeyfe Torun & Semih Tumen, 2017. "The impact of Syrian refugees on natives’ labor market outcomes in Turkey: evidence from a quasi-experimental design," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 6(1), pages 1-28, December.
    4. Binnur Balkan & Semih Tumen, 2016. "Immigration and prices: quasi-experimental evidence from Syrian refugees in Turkey," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 29(3), pages 657-686, July.
    5. Stips, Felix & Kis-Katos, Krisztina, 2020. "Ethnic Networks and the Employment of Asylum Seekers: Evidence from Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 12903, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Santamaria, J., 2022. "‘When a Stranger Shall Sojourn with Thee': The Impact of the Venezuelan Exodus on Colombian Labor Markets," Documentos de trabajo - Alianza EFI 20046, Alianza EFI.
    7. Beine, Michel & Bertinelli, Luisito & Cömertpay, Rana & Litina, Anastasia & Maystadt, Jean-François, 2021. "A gravity analysis of refugee mobility using mobile phone data," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    8. Peri, Giovanni & Rury, Derek & Wiltshire, Justin C., 2020. "The Economic Impact of Migrants from Hurricane Maria," IZA Discussion Papers 13049, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    refugees; natural experiments; identification; causal effects;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General

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