The role of networks for migration flows: an update

This paper covers the literature on the role migrants networks in explaining
aggregate migration flows between countries. We first provide a small review of
the literature and the issues at stake. We then provide an update of the estimates
of the network elasticities using the dataset on migration stocks and flows from
Ozden et al. (2011). Using micro-founded gravity models, we estimate the network
elasticities and discuss the key driving mechanisms explaining their size as well
the variation in the amplitude across categories of destination and over time. We
emphasize the specific role of family immigration policies. To that purpose, we cover
briefly the recent experience of four receiving countries to highlight the importance
of these policies in explaining part of the observed network elasticities.