Experimental evidence from Niger:
Access to mobile phone technology substantially changed household migration patterns, increasing the likelihood of having at least one household member migrate by 6-9 percentage points and increasing the number and percentage of household members who engage in seasonal out-migration… with relatively stronger effects for wealthier households.
A new paper from Aker, Clemens and Ksoll.
One Response
Amish communities seem to have recognised that phones (mobile or fixed) would encourage out migration. Banning phones has probably helped to maintain strong social cohesion among traditional Amish communities and discourage out migration.