Social Mechanisms Underlying Network Effects in Mexico-U.S. Migration

Abstract

Scholars have long noted how migration streams, once initiated, obtain a self-feeding character. Studies have attributed this phenomenon, called the cumulative causation of migration, to expanding social networks that connect migrants in destination to individuals in origin. Studies have often disagreed, however, on how social networks influence migration decisions. While many studies established a positive association between individuals’ ties to prior migrants and their migration propensities, only few acknowledged that multiple social mechanisms – as well as exposure to common environmental factors – might account for these interdependencies. To address this issue, we adopt a typology developed by DiMaggio and Garip (2012) and consider three mechanisms by which social ties may influence individuals’ migration choices. We study the prevalence of these mechanisms in the Mexico-U.S. migration context using a mixed methods approach. First, we analyze data from more than 90,000 individuals surveyed by the Mexican Migration Project (MMP), and establish the presence of network effects in migration. Specifically, we test how prior migrants in the family or community increase individuals’ migration propensities. We then analyze qualitative data from 120 in-depth interviews with migrants and their family members in Mexico to adjudicate among the different mechanisms that lead to interdependencies in individuals’ migration choices. We thus provide a deeper understanding of migration as a social process, which we contend is crucial for anticipating future flows and policy responses.