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Climatic Factors as Determinants of International Migration

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  • Michel Beine
  • Christopher Parsons

Abstract

We examine environmental factors as potential determinants of international migration. We distinguish between unexpected short-run factors, captured by natural disasters, as well as long-run climate change and climate variability. Building on a simple neo-classical model we use a panel dataset of bilateral migration flows for the period 1960-2000, the time and dyadic dimensions of which additionally allow us to control for numerous time-varying and time invariant factors. As a whole, we find little direct impact of climatic change on international migration in the medium to long run across our entire sample. Using the rate of urbanization as a proxy for internal migration we find strong evidence that natural disasters beget greater flows of migrants to urban environs.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Beine & Christopher Parsons, 2012. "Climatic Factors as Determinants of International Migration," CESifo Working Paper Series 3747, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_3747
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    international migration; climate change; natural disasters; income maximization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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