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Taken by Storm: Hurricanes, Migrant Networks, and U.S. Immigration

January 2017

Written by: Parag Mahajan, Dean Yang

Working Paper Number:

CES-17-50

Abstract

How readily do potential migrants respond to increased returns to migration? Even if origin areas become less attractive vis-'-vis migration destinations, fixed costs can prevent increased migration. We examine migration responses to hurricanes, which reduce the attractiveness of origin locations. Restricted-access U.S. Census data allows precise migration measures and analysis of more migrant-origin countries. Hurricanes increase U.S. immigration, with the effect increasing in the size of prior migrant stocks. Large migrant networks reduce fixed costs by facilitating legal immigration from hurricane-affected source countries. Hurricane-induced immigration can be fully accounted for by new legal permanent residents ('green card' holders).

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immigrant, impact, population, immigration, migrate, migration, migrating, migrant, disaster, hurricane, refugee

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1940 Census, Department of Homeland Security, American Community Survey, Herfindahl Hirschman Index

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