Citation

Discussion Paper Details

Please find the details for DP16173 in an easy to copy and paste format below:

Full Details

Title: Migrants at Sea: Unintended Consequences of Search and Rescue Operations

Author(s): Claudio Deiana, Vikram Maheshri and Giovanni Mastrobuoni

Publication Date: May 2021

Keyword(s): Africa, Central Mediterranean, International Migration, migrants, rubber boats, sea crossings, search and rescue operations, smugglers and undocumented migration

Programme Area(s): Labour Economics and Public Economics

Abstract: The Central Mediterranean Sea is the world's most dangerous crossing for irregular migrants. In response to mounting deaths, European nations intensified search and rescue operations in 2013. We develop a model of irregular migration to identify the effects of these operations. Leveraging exogenous variation from rapidly varying crossing conditions, we find that smugglers responded by sending boats in adverse weather and shifting from seaworthy boats to flimsy rafts. In doing so, these operations induced more crossings in dangerous conditions, ultimately offsetting their intended safety benefits. A more successful policy should restrict the supply of rafts, expanding legal alternatives migration.

For full details and related downloads, please visit: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=16173

Bibliographic Reference

Deiana, C, Maheshri, V and Mastrobuoni, G. 2021. 'Migrants at Sea: Unintended Consequences of Search and Rescue Operations'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=16173