Migration mentoring and its networked effects in Senegal
Rural-to-urban migration has the potential to enhance structural transformation and increase consumption. However, migration gains are heterogeneous, and migration frictions and uncertainties can lead to inefficient migration decisions. This paper examines the impact of a migration mentoring intervention in Senegal that draws on migrants’ experiences and network effects in rural origins to improve migration choices and outcomes. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 4,714 young men across 145 rural villages, we assess the effects of mentoring by experienced migrants from the capital Dakar, both with and without additional endorsement by recent migrants in the origin village. We find that mentoring improves employment expectations but does not increase migration rates on average. Mentoring without endorsement by a villager enhances migration experiences for those who move, and both mentoring types increase socioeconomic outcomes. Our results suggest that information and social capital interventions can shape migration outcomes and economic well-being, while network effects play a nuanced role in facilitating migration outcomes.
Publications
Project start:
01. April 2022
Project end:
30. June 2024
Project management:
Dr. Cara Ebert,
Bernd Beber PhD
Project staff:
Zara Riaz, Juni Singh