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The Gravity Model of Forced Displacement Using Mobile Phone Data

Author

Listed:
  • Michel Beine

    (Department of Economics and Management, Université du Luxembourg)

  • Luisito Bertinelli

    (Department of Economics and Management, Université du Luxembourg)

  • Rana Cömertpay

    (Department of Economics and Management, Université du Luxembourg)

  • Anastasia Litina

    (University of Ionannina, Greece)

  • Jean-François Maystadt

    (University of Antwerp, Belgium, Lancaster University Management School, UK)

Abstract

Based on geolocalized mobile phone calls data, we study the mobility of refugees in Turkey. We employ a gravity model to estimate the determinants of refugee movements across 26 regions in 2017. To benchmark our findings, we estimate the same model for the mobility of individuals with a non-refugee status. Beyond the standard determinants such as the levels of income at origin, at destination and distances across regions, we find that networks, provision of humanitarian aid and asylum grants are important determinants of refugee mobility. Our paper deepens our understanding on how forcibly displaced people may respond to economic, social and political factors in their location decision.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Beine & Luisito Bertinelli & Rana Cömertpay & Anastasia Litina & Jean-François Maystadt, 2020. "The Gravity Model of Forced Displacement Using Mobile Phone Data," DEM Discussion Paper Series 20-13, Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:luc:wpaper:20-13
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Refugee Mobility; Gravity Model of Migration; Forced Displacement; Mobile Phone Data; News Media; Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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