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The economic lives of refugees

Author

Listed:
  • Betts, Alexander
  • Flinder Stierna, Maria
  • Omata, Naohiko
  • Sterck, Olivier

Abstract

The economic lives of refugees are often viewed as relatively homogeneous, and sources of within-group variation remain largely unexplored. We describe the socio-economic diversity of refugees in one particular region: East Africa. Drawing upon first-hand quantitative and qualitative data collected in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia (n = 8,996), the article systematically compares 12 refugee subpopulations living in seven refugee camps and the three capital cities. In order to identify sources of variation, we examine three main questions: (1) What variation is there in socio-economic outcomes? (2) What strategies and resources do refugees rely upon, and how do these vary? (3) How are opportunities and constraints shaped by differences in institutions and identity? Overall, we show that, although the economic lives of refugees have some distinguishing and common features, they are also heterogeneous by host country, urban/camp context, nationality, and household. We explain why describing and understanding sources of within-group variation matters for research and policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Betts, Alexander & Flinder Stierna, Maria & Omata, Naohiko & Sterck, Olivier, 2024. "The economic lives of refugees," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:182:y:2024:i:c:s0305750x24001633
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106693
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Refugees; Livelihoods; Economic lives; East Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • K37 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Immigration Law

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