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Migration networks and Mexican migrants' spatial mobility in the US

Author

Listed:
  • Rebecca Lessem

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Brian Cadena

    (University of Colorado at Boulder)

  • Brian Kovak

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Shan Li

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

Abstract

Mexican low-skilled migrants are found to be highly mobile when they face labor demand shocks. This paper examines the role of migration networks in Mexican-born immigrants’ location choices. We rely on the sizable variation in labor demand declines across states during the Great Recession to identify migration responses to demand shocks and use a novel set of data, the Matrícula Consular de Alta Seguridad (MCAS) data, to construct migration network measures. We find that migration networks indeed play an important part in Mexican migrants’ responsiveness to local demand shocks.In particular, migrants respond to local economic conditions and conditions in network-connected locations when making location decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Lessem & Brian Cadena & Brian Kovak & Shan Li, 2018. "Migration networks and Mexican migrants' spatial mobility in the US," 2018 Meeting Papers 196, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed018:196
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    References listed on IDEAS

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