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Formation of Migrant Networks

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  • Margherita Comola
  • Mariapia Mendola

Abstract

In this paper, we provide the first direct evidence on the internal structure of the migrant social network. By using a purposely designed survey on Sri Lankan immigrants living in Milan, we show that the pattern of within-group link formation is heterogeneous across immigrants, and differentiated according to the network function (i.e., accommodation, credit, job-finding). We find that migrants tend to interact with co-nationals who come from nearby localities at origin, while the time of arrival has a U-shaped effect. Once the link is formed, material support is provided mainly to relatives, while early migrant fellows are helpful for job-finding.

Suggested Citation

  • Margherita Comola & Mariapia Mendola, 2015. "Formation of Migrant Networks," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 117(2), pages 592-618, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:scandj:v:117:y:2015:i:2:p:592-618
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    Cited by:

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    2. Fedotenkov, Igor, 2015. "International Trade and Migration: Why Do Migrants Choose Small Countries?," MPRA Paper 66035, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Johannes Buggle & Thierry Mayer & Seyhun Orcan Sakalli & Mathias Thoenig, 2023. "The Refugee’s Dilemma: Evidence from Jewish Migration out of Nazi Germany," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 138(2), pages 1273-1345.
    4. Gil S. Epstein & Odelia Heizler (Cohen), 2016. "The formation of networks in the diaspora," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 37(7), pages 1136-1153, October.
    5. Bredtmann, Julia & Nowotny, Klaus & Otten, Sebastian, 2020. "Linguistic distance, networks and migrants’ regional location choice," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    6. Simone Bertoli & Ilse Ruyssen, 2018. "Networks and migrants’ intended destination," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 705-728.
    7. Manchin, Miriam & Orazbayev, Sultan, 2018. "Social networks and the intention to migrate," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 360-374.
    8. Rapallini, Chiara & Rustichini, Aldo, 2019. "Personality and cognitive skills in network of friends, for multi-ethnic schools," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 1-14.
    9. Alexandra M. Espinosa & Ignacio Díaz-Emparanza, 2023. "Assessing the Spanish immigration policy with frequency-wise causality in Hosoya’s sense," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(1), pages 111-147, July.
    10. Klöcker, J.A. & Daumann, F., 2023. "What drives migration to Germany? A panel data analysis," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(2), pages 251-264.
    11. Parello, Carmelo Pierpaolo & Ikhenaode, Bright Isaac, 2021. "Migration, community networks and welfare in neoclassical growth models," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    12. Artjoms Ivlevs, 2021. "Does Emigration Affect Pro‐environmental Behaviour Back Home? A Long‐Term, Local‐Level Perspective," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(1), pages 48-76, February.
    13. Gil S. Epstein & Odelia Heizler-Cohen, 2016. "The Formation of Immigrant Networks in the Short and the Long Run," Economies, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-16, July.
    14. Barsbai, Toman & Licuanan, Victoria & Steinmayr, Andreas & Tiongson, Erwin & Yang, Dean, 2024. "Information and immigrant settlement," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    15. Blumenstock, Joshua & Chi, Guanghua & Tan, Xu, 2019. "Migration and the Value of Social Networks," CEPR Discussion Papers 13611, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    16. repec:luc:wpaper:15-14 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Meenakshi Fernandes & d'Artis Kancs & Cecilia Navarra, 2021. "Legal migration policy and law," EERI Research Paper Series EERI RP 2021/10, Economics and Econometrics Research Institute (EERI), Brussels.
    18. Gil S. Epstein & Odelia Heizler (Cohen), 2016. "Networks in the Diaspora," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 1604, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    19. Donia Kamel & Laura Pollacci, 2023. "Academic Migration and Academic Networks: Evidence from Scholarly Big Data and the Iron Curtain," CESifo Working Paper Series 10377, CESifo.
    20. Martínez Flores, Fernanda, 2018. "The deterrence effect of immigration enforcement in transit countries: Evidence from Central American deportees," Ruhr Economic Papers 749, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    21. Fernanda Martínez Flores, 2020. "The Effects of Enhanced Enforcement at Mexico’s Southern Border: Evidence From Central American Deportees," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(5), pages 1597-1623, October.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
    • C45 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Neural Networks and Related Topics

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