Migration and the Value of Social Networks
95 Pages Posted: 27 Mar 2019
Date Written: March 2019
Abstract
What is the value of a social network? Prior work suggests two distinct mechanisms that have historically been difficult to differentiate: as a conduit of information, and as a source of social and economic support. We use a rich 'digital trace' dataset to link the migration decisions of millions of individuals to the topological structure of their social networks. We find that migrants systematically prefer 'interconnected' networks (where friends have common friends) to 'expansive' networks (where friends are well connected). A micro-founded model of network-based social capital helps explain this preference: migrants derive more utility from networks that are structured to facilitate social support than from networks that efficiently transmit information.
Keywords: Big Data, Development, migration, networks, social capital, Social Networks
JEL Classification: C55, D85, O12, O15, R23, Z13
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