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Do immigrants import terrorism?

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  • Forrester, Andrew C.
  • Powell, Benjamin
  • Nowrasteh, Alex
  • Landgrave, Michelangelo

Abstract

The relationship between immigration and terrorism is an important public policy concern. Using bilateral migration data for 170 countries from 1990 to 2015, we estimate the relationship between levels of immigration and terrorism using an instrumental variables (IV) strategy based on the decades prior stocks of immigrants in destination countries. We specifically investigate rates of immigration from Muslim majority countries and countries involved in armed conflicts. We find no relationship between immigration and terrorism, whether measured by the number of attacks or victims, in destination countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Forrester, Andrew C. & Powell, Benjamin & Nowrasteh, Alex & Landgrave, Michelangelo, 2019. "Do immigrants import terrorism?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 529-543.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:166:y:2019:i:c:p:529-543
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2019.07.019
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    2. Helbling, Marc & Meierrieks, Daniel, 2022. "Terrorism and Migration: An Overview," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(2), pages 977-996, April.
    3. Kırdar, Murat G. & López Cruz, Ivan & Türküm, Betül, 2022. "The effect of 3.6 million refugees on crime," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 568-582.
    4. Khandker Wahedur Rahman, 2023. "International migration and the religious schooling of children in the home country: evidence from Bangladesh," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1963-2005, July.
    5. Foubert, Killian & Ruyssen, Ilse, 2024. "Global migration and the role of terrorist attacks," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 507-530.
    6. Gislain S. GANDJON FANKEM & Dieudonné TAKA & Sévérin TAMWO, 2023. "The effect of skills acquired abroad by return migrants on social relations and quality of life in Cameroon," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 23/011, African Governance and Development Institute..
    7. Gislain S. GANDJON FANKEM & Dieudonné TAKA & Sévérin TAMWO, 2023. "The effect of skills acquired abroad by return migrants on social relations and quality of life in Cameroon," Working Papers 23/011, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    8. Khusrav Gaibulloev & Todd Sandler, 2023. "Common myths of terrorism," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(2), pages 271-301, April.
    9. Ben Atta, Oussama & Chort, Isabelle & Senne, Jean Noël, 2022. "Immigration, integration, and the informal economy in OECD countries," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1197, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    10. Jamie Bologna Pavlik & Estefania Lujan Padilla & Benjamin Powell, 2021. "Simpler Evidence on Immigration and Institutions: An Assessment," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 18(1), pages 1-21–34, March.
    11. Lili Yao & J. Brandon Bolen & Claudia R. Williamson, 2022. "Are economic arguments against immigration missing the boat? The fiscal effects of the Mariel Boatlift," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(2), pages 305-325, October.
    12. Gislain Stéphane GANDJON FANKEM & Dieudonné TAKA & Sévérin TAMWO, 2023. "The effects of new skills acquired abroad by return migrants on social relations and quality of life in Cameroon," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 58, pages 21-49.
    13. Enrico Rubaltelli & Giulia Priolo & Sara Scrimin & Ughetta Moscardino, 2020. "Media Exposure to Terrorism and Perception of Immigrants as a Threat: The Role of Emotional Intelligence and Psychophysiological Self‐Regulation," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(8), pages 1666-1676, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Immigration; Terrorism J61; J68; F22; F52;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F52 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - National Security; Economic Nationalism

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