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Migrants at Sea: Unintended Consequences of Search and Rescue Operations

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Listed:
  • Claudio Deiana
  • Vikram Maheshri
  • Giovanni Mastrobuoni

Abstract

The Central Mediterranean Sea is the world’s most dangerous crossing for irregular migrants. In response to mounting deaths, European nations intensified search and rescue operations in 2013. We develop a model of irregular migration to identify the effects of these operations. Leveraging plausibly exogenous variation from rapidly varying crossing conditions, we find that smugglers responded by sending boats in adverse weather and shifting from seaworthy boats to flimsy rafts. In doing so, these operations induced more crossings, ultimately offsetting their intended safety benefits. A more successful policy should restrict the supply of rafts and expand legal alternatives to irregular migration.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudio Deiana & Vikram Maheshri & Giovanni Mastrobuoni, 2020. "Migrants at Sea: Unintended Consequences of Search and Rescue Operations," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 636, Collegio Carlo Alberto.
    • Handle: RePEc:cca:wpaper:636
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Central Mediterranean sea crossings; international; undocumented; irregular migration; search and rescue operations; rubber boats; deaths.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management

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