Migration networks as a response to financial constraints: Onset, and endogenous dynamics

Oded Stark*, Marcin Jakubek

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A migration network is modeled as a mutually beneficial cooperative agreement between financially-constrained individuals who seek to finance and expedite their migration. The cooperation agreement creates a network: "established" migrants contract to support the subsequent migration of others in exchange for receiving support themselves. When the model is expanded to study cooperation between more than two migrants, it emerges that there is a finite optimal size of the migration network. Consequently, would-be migrants in the sending country will form a multitude of networks, rather than a single grand network.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-7
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Development Economics
Volume101
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Affinity
  • Cost of migration
  • Interpersonal bonds
  • Migration networks
  • Schedule of migration
  • Sequential migration

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Migration networks as a response to financial constraints: Onset, and endogenous dynamics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this