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Information Campaigns and Migration Perceptions

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  • Erminia Florio

Abstract

The research studies the effect of information campaigns on migration on perceptions and intentions to migrate among high school students in Dakar, Senegal. First, I analyze the role of expectations, migration perceptions, and intention to migrate. Through a randomized experiment, I also assess which actors and types of information are most effective in shaping these intentions and perceptions. I find that students display a high level of distrust in domestic labor markets, and an information treatment with an external expert reduces the misperceptions of some measures of labor market statistics but has no effect on the perception of the risks of the irregular migration journey. In addition, narratives are more effective in reducing the willingness to migrate irregularly, but none of the treatments has an impact on the intention to migrate.

Suggested Citation

  • Erminia Florio, 2025. "Information Campaigns and Migration Perceptions," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 61(5), pages 776-796, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:61:y:2025:i:5:p:776-796
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2024.2429196
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    Cited by:

    1. Giacomo Battiston & Lucia Corno & Eliana La Ferrara, 2024. "Informing Risky Migration: Evidence from a field experiment in Guinea," DISCE - Working Papers del Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza def136, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).
    2. Giacomo Battiston & Lucia Corno & Eliana La Ferrara, 2024. "Informing Risky Migration: Evidence from a field experiment in Guinea," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 2434, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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