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Migration and the labour market impacts of COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Nathan Barker
  • Austin Davis
  • Paula López-Peña
  • Harrison Mitchell
  • Mushfiq Mobarak
  • Karim Naguib
  • Maira Emy Reimão
  • Ashish Shenoy
  • Corey Vernot

Abstract

Using detailed microdata, we document how migration-dependent households are especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. We create pre- and post-COVID panel datasets for three populations in Bangladesh and Nepal, leveraging experimental and observational variation in prior migration dependence. We report 25 per cent greater declines in earnings and fourfold greater prevalence of food insecurity among migrant households since March. Causes include lower migration rates, less remittance income per migrant, isolation in origin communities, and greater health risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathan Barker & Austin Davis & Paula López-Peña & Harrison Mitchell & Mushfiq Mobarak & Karim Naguib & Maira Emy Reimão & Ashish Shenoy & Corey Vernot, 2020. "Migration and the labour market impacts of COVID-19," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-139, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2020-139
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Gharad Bryan & Shyamal Chowdhury & Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, 2014. "Underinvestment in a Profitable Technology: The Case of Seasonal Migration in Bangladesh," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 82(5), pages 1671-1748, September.
    6. Fasani, Francesco & Mazza, Jacopo, 2020. "Immigrant Key Workers: Their Contribution to Europe's COVID-19 Response," IZA Policy Papers 155, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Agha Ali Akram & Shyamal Chowdhury & Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, 2017. "Effects of Emigration on Rural Labor Markets," NBER Working Papers 23929, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Michele Valsecchi & Ruben Durante, 2020. "Internal migration and the spread of Covid-19," Working Papers w0276, New Economic School (NES).
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak & Edward Miguel, 2022. "The Economics of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poor Countries," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 14(1), pages 253-285, August.
    2. Francesco Fasani & Jacopo Mazza, 2023. "Being on the Frontline? Immigrant Workers in Europe and the COVID-19 Pandemic," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 76(5), pages 890-918, October.
    3. Chakravorty, Bhaskar & Bhatiya, Apurav Yash & Imbert, Clément & Lohnert, Maximilian & Panda, Poonam & Rathelot, Roland, 2023. "Impact of the COVID-19 crisis on India’s rural youth: Evidence from a panel survey and an experiment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Lauren Hoehn-Velasco & Adan Silverio-Murillo & Jose Roberto Balmori de la Miyar & Jacob Penglase, 2022. "The impact of the COVID-19 recession on Mexican households: evidence from employment and time use for men, women, and children," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 763-797, September.
    5. Gatto, Marcel, 2021. "Heterogenous Effects of COVID-19 on Rural Livelihoods in Bangladesh: Evidence from a Panel Study," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315875, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Satoshi Shimizutani & Eiji Yamada, 2021. "Resilience against the pandemic: The impact of COVID-19 on migration and household welfare in Tajikistan," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-20, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Migration; COVID-19; Panel; Bangladesh; Nepal;
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