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Refugees’ Self-selection into Europe: Who Migrates Where?

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  • Aksoy, Cevat
  • Poutvaara, Panu

Abstract

About 1.4 million refugees and irregular migrants arrived in Europe in 2015 and 2016. We model how refugees and irregular migrants are self-selected. Using unique datasets from the International Organization for Migration and Gallup World Polls, we provide the first large-scale evidence on reasons to emigrate, and the self-selection and sorting of refugees and irregular migrants for multiple origin and destination countries. Refugees and female irregular migrants are positively self-selected with respect to education, while male irregular migrants are not. We also find that both male and female migrants from major conflict countries are positively self-selected in terms of their predicted income. For countries with minor or no conflict, migrant and non-migrant men do not differ in terms of their income distribution. We also analyze how border controls affect destination country choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Aksoy, Cevat & Poutvaara, Panu, 2019. "Refugees’ Self-selection into Europe: Who Migrates Where?," VfS Annual Conference 2019 (Leipzig): 30 Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall - Democracy and Market Economy 203665, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc19:203665
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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