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“Barcelona or die”: understanding illegal migration from Senegal

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  • Linguère Mbaye

Abstract

Fatalities from illegal immigration from Africa to Europe are a grave reality. The phenomenon represents a major challenge for both home and host countries. Nonetheless, almost nothing is known about how the motivations of potentially illegally migrating individuals are formed. This paper aims to explain the factors behind the formation of the willingness to migrate illegally knowing that death might occur during the trip. I focus on the role of expectations, friends and relatives who have migrated and host countries policies. By using an original survey among Senegalese residing in Dakar in 2006-2007, I show that potential illegal migrants are willing to accept a substantial risk of death. I find that high expectations and migrant networks are positively related with illegal migration motivations. Surprisingly, I find that stricter immigration policies deter potential legal migrants much more than potential illegal migrants. Finally, I find that the price of illegal migration is negatively correlated with the willingness to migrate illegally. JEL Code: F22, O15 Copyright Mbaye; licensee Springer. 2014

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  • Linguère Mbaye, 2014. "“Barcelona or die”: understanding illegal migration from Senegal," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 3(1), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:izamig:v:3:y:2014:i:1:p:1-19:10.1186/s40176-014-0021-8
    DOI: 10.1186/s40176-014-0021-8
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    Cited by:

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    3. David, Blight, 2019. "Review of Economic Migration: Decision Making Perspectives," MPRA Paper 106309, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2019.
    4. Clemens, Michael A. & Pritchett, Lant, 2019. "The new economic case for migration restrictions: An assessment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 153-164.
    5. Tani, Massimiliano, 2018. "Selective Immigration, Occupational Licensing, and Labour Market Outcomes of Foreign-Trained Migrants," IZA Discussion Papers 11370, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Beber, Bernd & Scacco, Alexandra, 2022. "The myth of the misinformed migrant? Survey insights from Nigeria's irregular migration epicenter," Ruhr Economic Papers 957, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    7. Tani, Massimiliano, 2018. "Selective immigration policies, occupational licensing, and the quality of migrants’ education-occupation match," GLO Discussion Paper Series 206, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    8. Michael, Owiso, 2017. "Migration Decision Making: Review of Economic and Asylum-Seeker," MPRA Paper 104992, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2017.
    9. Tanja Stitteneder & Carla Rhode, 2019. "ifo Migrationsmonitor: Informationskampagnen zur Förderung der regulären Migration," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 72(16), pages 65-69, August.
    10. Christidis, Les, 2017. "Review of Economic and Asylum-Seeker: Migration Decision Making Perspectives," MPRA Paper 105241, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2017.
    11. Ademmer, Esther & Barslund, Mikkel & Benček, David & Di Salvo, Mattia & Groll, Dominik & Hoxhaj, Rezart & Kadkoy, Omar & Lanati, Mauro & Laurentsyeva, Nadzeya & Lücke, Matthias & Ludolph, Lars & Pizzu, 2018. "2018 MEDAM Assessment Report on Asylum and Migration Policies in Europe. Flexible Solidarity: A comprehensive strategy for asylum and immigration in the EU," MEDAM Assessment Report on Asylum and Migration Policies in Europe, Mercator Dialogue on Asylum and Migration (MEDAM), number 182240.
    12. Akasaka, Shintaro, 2019. "Review of Decision Making Process for Economic Migration," MPRA Paper 106473, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2019.
    13. Zakiyyah, Varachia, 2019. "Decision Making Process: International Economic Migration Perspectives," MPRA Paper 106455, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2019.
    14. Dibeh, Ghassan & Fakih, Ali & Marrouch, Walid, 2018. "Labor Market and Institutional Drivers of Youth Irregular Migration: Evidence from the MENA Region," IZA Discussion Papers 11903, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Tani, Massimiliano, 2017. "Skilled Migration Policy and the Labour Market Performance of Immigrants," IZA Discussion Papers 11241, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Binhan Elif, Yilmaz, 2015. "Migration Decision Making: Review and Evidences," MPRA Paper 104941, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2015.
    17. Clemens, Michael & Pritchett, Lant, 2016. "The New Case for Migration Restrictions: An Assessment," Working Paper Series rwp16-054, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    18. Romuald Méango, 2016. "What Makes Brain Drain More Likely? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," CESifo Working Paper Series 6209, CESifo.
    19. Ademmer, Esther & Barsbai, Toman & Lücke, Matthias & Stöhr, Tobias, 2015. "30 Years of Schengen: Internal blessing, external curse?," Kiel Policy Brief 88, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    20. Mamadou Abdoulaye Diallo, 2022. "Subjective poverty and migration intention abroad: The case of Senegal," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 34(3), pages 410-424, September.
    21. Tijan L. Bah & Cátia Batista, 2018. "Understanding willingness to migrate illegally: Evidence from a lab in the field experiment," NOVAFRICA Working Paper Series wp1803, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics, NOVAFRICA.
    22. Kuhnt, Jana, 2019. "Literature review: drivers of migration. Why do people leave their homes? Is there an easy answer? A structured overview of migratory determinants," IDOS Discussion Papers 9/2019, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Illegal migration; Risk attitude; Sub-Saharan Africa; Senegal;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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