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Migrant Networks: Empirical Implications for the Italian Bilateral Trade

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  • Marina Murat
  • Barbara Pistoresi

Abstract

A significant number of empirical studies, focusing on different countries, have found a positive link between migration and trade. This paper studies the relationship between emigration, immigration and trade using Italian data. The sample regards 51 foreign trading partners and spans from 1990 to 2005. The results suggest that networks of Italian emigrants in foreign countries boost bilateral trade. The effects of immigrants are weak on exports and negative on imports. Results do not change when cultural and institutional dissimilarities between countries are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Murat & Barbara Pistoresi, 2009. "Migrant Networks: Empirical Implications for the Italian Bilateral Trade," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 371-390.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:intecj:v:23:y:2009:i:3:p:371-390
    DOI: 10.1080/10168730903119435
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    Cited by:

    1. Flisi, Sara & Murat, Marina, 2011. "The hub continent. Immigrant networks, emigrant diasporas and FDI," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 796-805.
    2. Anna D’Ambrosio & Sandro Montresor & Mario Davide Parrilli & Francesco Quatraro, 2019. "Migration, communities on the move and international innovation networks: an empirical analysis of Spanish regions," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(1), pages 6-16, January.
    3. Egger, Peter H. & Ehrlich, Maximilian v. & Nelson, Douglas R., 2020. "The trade effects of skilled versus unskilled migration," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 448-464.
    4. SANDEEP, Kaur, 2015. "Migration And Bilateral Trade Flows: Evidence From India And Oecd Countries," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 15(2), pages 179-196.
    5. Hélène Ehrhart & Maëlan Le Goff & Emmanuel Rocher & Raju Jan Singh, 2012. "Does Migration Foster Exports? An African Perspective," Working Papers 2012-38, CEPII research center.
    6. Fourie, Johan & Santana-Gallego, María, 2013. "Ethnic reunion and cultural affinity," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 411-420.
    7. D'Ambrosio, Anna & Montresor, Sandro, 2017. "Migration and Trade Ows: New Evidence from Spanish Regions," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 201724, University of Turin.
    8. Murat Genc & Masood Gheasi & Peter Nijkamp & Jacques Poot, 2012. "The impact of immigration on international trade: a meta-analysis," Chapters, in: Peter Nijkamp & Jacques Poot & Mediha Sahin (ed.), Migration Impact Assessment, chapter 9, pages 301-337, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Sara Flisi & Marina Murat, 2009. "Immigrant Links, Diasporas and FDI. An Empirical Investigation on Five European Countries," Department of Economics 0608, University of Modena and Reggio E., Faculty of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    10. Horácio Faustino & Isabel Proença, 2011. "Effects of Immigration on Intra-Industry Trade: A logit analysis," Working Papers Department of Economics 2011/19, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.
    11. A. James Wynne & Chandrashekar Challa & John Palesis & Bernie Farkas, 2015. "A Conceptual Model: Impact Of Usage Of Social Media Tools To Enhance Project Management Success," Portuguese Journal of Management Studies, ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa, vol. 0(2), pages 55-72.
    12. Witada Anukoonwattaka & Adam Heal, 2013. "Regional Integration and Labour Mobility," Studies in Trade and Investment 81, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
    13. Marina Murat & Barbara Pistoresi & Alberto Rinaldi, 2008. "Italian Diaspora and Foreign Direct Investment: A Cliometric Perspective," Center for Economic Research (RECent) 013, University of Modena and Reggio E., Dept. of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    14. Bellino Antonella & Celi Giuseppe, 2016. "The Role of Migration in the Variety and Quality of Trade: Evidence from Germany," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 17(1), pages 1-25, February.
    15. Isabel Proença & Horácio Faustino, 2015. "Modelling bilateral intra-industry trade indexes with panel data: a semiparametric approach," Computational Statistics, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 865-884, September.
    16. BELLINO, Antonella & CELI, Giuseppe, 2016. "The Migration-Trade Nexus in the Presence of Vertical and Horizontal Product Differentiation," CELPE Discussion Papers 137, CELPE - CEnter for Labor and Political Economics, University of Salerno, Italy.
    17. Amir Maghssudipour & Marco Bellandi & Annalisa Caloffi, 2023. "The role of language in international trade and the “made in Italy”," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 50(3), pages 677-702, September.
    18. Peter H. Egger & Maximilian von Ehrlich & Douglas R. Nelson, 2012. "Migration and Trade," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(2), pages 216-241, February.
    19. Ehrhart, Helene & Le Goff, Maelan & Rocher?, Emmanuel & Singh, Raju Jan, 2014. "Does migration foster exports ? evidence from Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6739, The World Bank.
    20. Horácio C. Faustino & Isabel Proença, 2015. "Immigration And Intra-Industry Trade: The Relevance Of Language, Qualification And Economic Integration," Portuguese Journal of Management Studies, ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa, vol. 0(1), pages 3-18.
    21. Luigi Benfratello & Davide Castellani & Anna D’Ambrosio, 2019. "Migration and the Location of MNEs Activities. Evidence from Italian Provinces," John H Dunning Centre for International Business Discussion Papers jhd-dp2019-04, Henley Business School, University of Reading.
    22. Noel Gaston & Douglas R. Nelson, 2013. "Bridging Trade Theory And Labour Econometrics: The Effects Of International Migration," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 98-139, February.
    23. Robert E.B. Lucas, 2014. "The migration–trade link in developing economies: a summary and extension of evidence," Chapters, in: Robert E.B. Lucas (ed.), International Handbook on Migration and Economic Development, chapter 11, pages 288-326, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    24. Roger White & Bedassa Tadesse, 2011. "International Migration and Economic Integration," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14318.
    25. Anna D’Ambrosio & Sandro Montresor, 2022. "The pro-export effect of subnational migration networks: new evidence from Spanish provinces," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 158(1), pages 53-107, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International migration; Italian bilateral trade;

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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