Do climate variations explain bilateral migration? A gravity model analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID7802054
AuthorsAndreas Backhaus (0000-0002-8482-4132), Inmaculada Martinez-Zarzoso (0000-0002-3247-8557, University of Göttingen, corresponding author), Chris Muris (0000-0003-2781-3514, Simon Fraser University)
Year2015
Volume4
Issue1
Publication date2015-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueIZA Journal of Migration (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2193-9039 • E-ISSN: 2193-9039
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/s40176-014-0026-3
OpenAlexW2127850388
LanguageEN
Citations received38
References cited12

This paper investigates to what extent international migration can be explained by climatic variations. A gravity model of migration augmented with average temperature and precipitation in the country of origin is estimated using a panel data set of 142 sending countries for the period 1995 to 2006. We find two primary results. First, temperature is positively correlated with migration. Second, stronger changes in precipitation are also associated with aligned, but small changes in migration. Both effects are robust to various model modifications. Furthermore, we present initial explorations into the channels relating climate changes with migration via agriculture and internal conflict. JEL Codes F22, Q54

Climate change · Climatology · Demographic economics · Developing country · Econometrics · Economic geography · Economics · Geography · Gravity model of trade · Internal migration · International economics · Meteorology · Panel data · Precipitation · Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration · Environmental Science · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Geology

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