Migration and the Epidemiological Approach Time and Self-Selection into Foreign Ancestries Matter

Abstract

Data on individuals of immigrant origin are used in the epidemiological approach in comparative development for understanding the determinants of cultural traits, and the effects of genetic factors. A widespread presumption in the literature is that this approach is exposed to attenuation bias. We discuss three dimensions of unobserved heterogeneity that are typically overlooked and which can confound the estimation and counteract the attenuation bias. Focusing on the United States, a key context in this literature, we highlight the heterogeneity among natives reporting different foreign ancestries with respect to the average time elapsed since ancestral migration, their spatial concentration, and their attachment to their ancestral identity. These dimensions of heterogeneity vary smoothly across space, oftentimes mirroring the general trend of the variables of interest in this literature, creating a threat to identification. We propose proxies that can be controlled for by the researcher as a bias-reducing strategy.

Date
28 Apr, 2024 2:35 PM — 3:10 PM
Location
Brown University
280 Brook Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02906
Simone Bertoli
Simone Bertoli
Professor of Economics

My research lies in migration.

Melchior Clerc
Melchior Clerc
PhD Candidate

I am an economist whose research revolves around economic development and political economy.

Jordan Loper
Jordan Loper
Associate Professor

I am an economist whose research revolves around economic development and political economy.

Èric Roca Fernández
Èric Roca Fernández
Assistant Professor

My research interests include comparative development, economic history and gender economics.