## Climate and Cross-Border Migration

_IMF Working Papers, December 8, 2023_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Climate and Cross-Border Migration](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2023/12/08/climate-and-cross-border-migration-542196)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2023/12/08/climate-and-cross-border-migration-542196/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2023/12/08/climate-and-cross-border-migration-542196/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2023/12/08/climate-and-cross-border-migration-542196/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Paula Beltran, Metodij Hadzi-Vaskov
- Published: December 8, 2023
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400261879.001

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### Summary findings
- The analysis explores: (i) the relative importance of origin-country vs destination-country factors in explaining migration patterns; (ii) importance of climate disasters as driver of cross-border migration; and (iii) the importance of climate-driven migration on the overall impact of climate on macroeconomic outcomes.
- Main findings:
  - Both origin-country and destination-country contribute to explaining migration outflows from EMDEs, although only the global shocks seem important for advanced economies.
  - Climate disasters are important for explaining the origin-country migration shocks in LICs and EMDEs, are especially relevant for smaller countries, and lead to migration of both genders, albeit relatively more for males out of LICs.
  - An important portion of climate’s overall impact on economic outcomes—especially agricultural GDP, remittances, and inequality—is captured via climate-driven migration.
  - Higher investment in climate-resilient infrastructure can reduce the impact of climate on cross-border migration, and thereby, result in potentially important economic gains.

### Policy implications and analytical focus
- Emphasizes the intersection of migration and climate change as key forces shaping economic outlooks.
- Highlights the need to account for both origin- and destination-country factors when analyzing migration from EMDEs.
- Identifies climate disasters as a significant driver of origin-country migration shocks in LICs and EMDEs, with policy relevance for smaller countries and gender-differentiated migration responses.
- Suggests that investments in climate-resilient infrastructure could mitigate climate-driven migration and yield economic benefits, particularly through effects on agricultural GDP, remittances, and inequality.

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## Content in this bundle

- **Working Paper**
  - [Working Paper (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2023/english/wpiea2023250-print-pdf.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Working Paper (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2023/english/wpiea2023250-print-pdf.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2023/12/08/climate-and-cross-border-migration-542196_