Abstract:
Crime victimization can be a factor for people to consider outmigration, and currently states with high crime rates are already seeing the flight. Using evidence from Mexico and Central American countries, I contend in this paper that as people’s crime victimization increases, their probability of emigrating also increases. By collecting data from surveys implemented by LAPOP, and using a difference-in-differences design my results indicate that people exposed to crime victimization are over ten percentage points more likely to emigrate to a different country. Moreover, the data also indicate that the marginal effects for one additional crime victimization, it increases the odds of emigrating in the next 12 months by a factor of 1.145.
Outmigration has been exacerbated by the increase of violent organizations’ presence and power in those countries, since states’ control over them has been diminished, leaving individuals more susceptible and vulnerable to violent groups. When faced with options, or the lack there of, most resident facing violence are choosing, or rather forced, to emigrate. In this view, policymakers wishing to reduce the high levels of emigration should focus on reducing the high levels of crime victimization in Mexico and Central America to curve the high levels of outmigration.
Crime victimization can be a factor for people to consider outmigration, and currently states with high crime rates are already seeing the flight. Using evidence from Mexico and Central American countries, I contend in this paper that as people’s crime victimization increases, their probability of emigrating also increases. By collecting data from surveys implemented by LAPOP, and using a difference-in-differences design my results indicate that people exposed to crime victimization are over ten percentage points more likely to emigrate to a different country. Moreover, the data also indicate that the marginal effects for one additional crime victimization, it increases the odds of emigrating in the next 12 months by a factor of 1.145.
Outmigration has been exacerbated by the increase of violent organizations’ presence and power in those countries, since states’ control over them has been diminished, leaving individuals more susceptible and vulnerable to violent groups. When faced with options, or the lack there of, most resident facing violence are choosing, or rather forced, to emigrate. In this view, policymakers wishing to reduce the high levels of emigration should focus on reducing the high levels of crime victimization in Mexico and Central America to curve the high levels of outmigration.