Migrants at Sea: Unintended Consequences of Search and Rescue Operations
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 16,
no. 2, May 2024
(pp. 335-65)
Abstract
Many countries are facing and resisting strong migratory pressure, fueling irregular migration. In response to mounting deaths in the Central Mediterranean, European nations intensified rescue operations in 2013. We develop a model of irregular migration to identify the effects of these operations. We find that smugglers responded by sending boats in adverse weather and utilizing flimsy rafts, thus inducing more crossings in dangerous conditions and ultimately offsetting intended safety benefits due to moral hazard. Despite the increased risk, these operations likely increased aggregate migrant welfare; nevertheless, a more successful policy should instead restrict supply of rafts and expand legal alternatives.Citation
Deiana, Claudio, Vikram Maheshri, and Giovanni Mastrobuoni. 2024. "Migrants at Sea: Unintended Consequences of Search and Rescue Operations." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 16 (2): 335-65. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20220014Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D82 Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
- J15 Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
- J18 Demographic Economics: Public Policy
- K37 Immigration Law
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
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