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Risk Attitudes and Household Migration Decisions

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Dustmann

    (University College London)

  • Francesco Fasani

    (Queen Mary University)

  • Xin Meng

    (Australian National University)

  • Luigi Minale

    (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid)

Abstract
This paper analyses the relation between individual migrations and the risk attitudes of other household members when migration is a household decision. We develop a simple model that implies that which members migrate depends on the distribution of risk attitudes among all household members, and that the risk diversification gain to other household members may induce migrations that would not take place in an individual framework. Using unique data for China on risk attitudes of internal (rural-urban) migrants and the families left behind, we empirically test three key implications of the model: (i) that conditional on migration gains, less risk averse individuals are more likely to migrate; (ii) that within households, the least risk averse individual is more likely to emigrate; and (iii) that across households, the most risk averse households are more likely to send migrants as long as they have at least one family member with sufficiently low risk version. Our results not only provide strong evidence that migration decisions are taken on a household level but also that the distribution of risk attitudes within the household affects whether a migration takes place and who will emigrate.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Dustmann & Francesco Fasani & Xin Meng & Luigi Minale, 2015. "Risk Attitudes and Household Migration Decisions," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 1514, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    • Handle: RePEc:crm:wpaper:1514
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    risk aversion; internal migration; household decisions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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