The Impact of Post-9/11 Visa Policies on Travel to the United States

Journal of International Economics, Forthcoming

36 Pages Posted: 23 Sep 2009

See all articles by Brent Neiman

Brent Neiman

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Phillip Swagel

University of Maryland - School of Public Policy; Milken Institute; AEI

Date Written: May 1, 2009

Abstract

American and foreign businesses, politicians, and media have all pointed to post-9/11 changes in visa policies as being responsible for the sharp decline in travel to the United States following the attacks. Using an empirical model which distinguishes the impact of visa policy from economic and country-specific factors, we find that changes in visa policy were not important contributors to the decrease in travel to the United States. Rather, the reduction in entries was largest among travelers who were not required to obtain a visa.

Keywords: Visa policy, difference in differences, September 11

JEL Classification: F2, H56

Suggested Citation

Neiman, Brent and Swagel, Phillip, The Impact of Post-9/11 Visa Policies on Travel to the United States (May 1, 2009). Journal of International Economics, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1476856

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Phillip Swagel

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