Journal of International Migration and Integration
Volume 20, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 279-290

Preliminary Data Linking American Consumer Perceptions with Unauthorized Migration to the U.S. (Article)

Venta A.* , Ball Cooper E. , Bristow J. , Venta E.
  • a Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341, United States
  • b Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341, United States
  • c U.S. Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC, United States
  • d Department of Management and Marketing, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, United States

Abstract

Unauthorized migration to the U.S. is frequent, though economic predictors are understudied. This study examined the predictive utility of U.S. economic metrics in relation to unauthorized migration 2000–2016. Findings indicated that economic metrics add significant predictive power to models predicting unauthorized migration up to 4 months later. The most predictive metric was the Consumer Confidence Index, indicating that the perception of U.S. economic health—rather than objective parameterization—is most relevant. To our knowledge, this is the first study to consider the Consumer Confidence Index and examine U.S. economic metrics over the last decade, in relation to unauthorized migration. © 2018, Springer Nature B.V.

Author Keywords

Economics Migration Unauthorized Southwest Mexico

Index Keywords

international migration economic activity perception Mexico [North America] immigrant United States
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85051692188&doi=10.1007%2fs12134-018-0612-y&partnerID=40&md5=be2273b5346c41e1a60dfeade816c2e7
DOI: 10.1007/s12134-018-0612-y
ISSN: 14883473
Original Language: English