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The impact of police violence on migration: evidence from Venezuela

Author

Listed:
  • Federico Maggio

    (Free University of Bozen
    University of Bologna)

  • Carlo Caporali

    (Gran Sasso Science Institute)

Abstract

This study unveils the causal effect of authoritative violence on individuals’ likelihood to migrate. Specifically, we examine the migration patterns of Venezuelans during the 2017–2018 political and economic crisis. We draw insights from regional-level data on civilian casualties caused by security forces, along with information extracted from the ENCOVI-2018 survey data that captures migration flows. The estimates rely on travel time from the capital city as an instrumental variable and are robust to the inclusion of several household- and socio-economic regional-level characteristics. The findings strongly suggest that authoritative violence is a significant non-economic push factor for international migration. Moreover, additional evidence indicates that this type of violence influences the skill composition of migrants, especially in the context of South-to-South migration flows.

Suggested Citation

  • Federico Maggio & Carlo Caporali, 2024. "The impact of police violence on migration: evidence from Venezuela," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(1), pages 1-27, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:37:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s00148-024-00997-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-024-00997-x
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    1. Michael Christian Lehmann, 2025. "Migration and informational autocracy," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(1), pages 1-22, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Venezuela; Police Militarization; Violence; Migration; Crisis;
    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
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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