Remittances and Credit Markets: Evidence from Senegal

This study investigates the impact of remittances on credit markets in Senegal. The findings show that remittances and credit markets are complements; namely, the receipt of remittances increases the likelihood of having a loan in a household. This result is robust after controlling for the potential endogeneity of remittances through household fixed effects and an instrumental variable approach. A detailed analysis also shows that the impact of remittances on credit markets is mainly driven by loans taken for consumption and food, in particular, as well as loans provided by informal institutions

Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Migration: An Empirical Analysis in Developing Countries

The aim of this paper is to assess the relationship between natural disasters caused by climate change and migration by examining migration rates and levels of education in developing countries. Many studies such as the Stern review (2007) or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) predict an intensification of climate change for future years. Thus climate change has taken an essential place in world governance. The relationship between climate change, natural disasters and migration is crucial; developed countries need to manage the increasingly complicated issues of additional incoming migratory flows caused by environmental degradation. We investigate this relationship by using panel data from developing countries in order to see the effect of natural disasters on migration rates and how that varies according to the level of education. Estimations are made with a country fixed effects estimator through an accurate econometric model. The results confirm previous studies, namely that natural disasters are positively associated with emigration rates. But beyond this result, the main contribution of this paper is to show that natural disasters due to climate change exacerbate the brain drain in developing countries characterized by the migration of highly skilled people just when those countries are at their most vulnerable and need greater support from skilled workers to deal with the damage associated with natural disasters. The paper also shows that this effect varies depending on geographical location.natural disasters, climate change, migration

Climate change, natural disasters, and migration

The relationship between climatic shocks, natural disasters, and migration has received increasing attention in recent years and is quite controversial. One view suggests that climate change and its associated natural disasters increase migration. An alternative view suggests that climate change may only have marginal effects on migration. Knowing whether climate change and natural disasters lead to more migration is crucial to better understand the different channels of transmission between climatic shocks and migration and to formulate evidence-based policy recommendations for the efficient management of the consequences of disasters

“Barcelona or die”: understanding illegal migration from Senegal

Green tea is claimed by news media and scientists alike to be a source of health benefits for many conditions in humans. However, with the supposed health benefits of green tea ranging from ultraviolet light protection to memory improvement to weight management, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. Because tea is the most consumed beverage in the world, aside from water, even small beneficial health effects in humans could result in significant effects on global public health. I conducted a critical review of the research literature on green tea and human health and analysed the validity of these claims. While epidemiological studies look promising, clinical and laboratory trials to date are not compelling, requiring large doses and producing poorly defined benefits

Migration and the autonomy of women left behind

This paper investigates the impact of migration of male household heads on the autonomy of their spouses. Using panel household survey data from Ethiopia, the methodology mainly relies on an instrumental variables approach that addresses the endogeneity inherent in the relationship using past migration as the instrument and carefully paying attention to the role of remittances. We find consistent evidence that male migration increases female self-determination and decision-making power, and (to a lesser extent) the ability to protect one's interests. As all these variables measure autonomy, our results suggest that migration of husbands offers an opportunity for women to become more autonomous in traditional societies. Furthermore, through comparison with a household fixed-effects model with contrasting findings, our results indicate that a careful treatment of the inherent endogeneity is imperative

Braving the Waves: The Role of Time and Risk Preferences in Illegal Migration from Senegal

This paper aims to provide the first evidence concerning the relationship between time and risk preferences and illegal migration in an African context. Based upon our theoretical model and using a unique data set on potential migrants collected in urban Senegal, we evaluate a measure of time and risk preferences through the individual's intertemporal discount rate and coefficient of absolute risk aversion. Remarkably, our results show that these individual preferences matter in the willingness to migrate illegally and to pay a smuggler

Climate change, natural disasters and migration: An empirical analysis in developing countries

The aim of this paper is to assess the relationship between natural disasters caused by climate change and migration by examining migration rates and levels of education in developing countries. Many studies such as the Stern review (2007) or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) predict an intensification of climate change for future years. Thus climate change has taken an essential place in world governance. The relationship between climate change, natural disasters and migration is crucial; developed countries need to manage the increasingly complicated issues of additional incoming migratory flows caused by environmental degradation. We investigate this relationship by using panel data from developing countries in order to see the effect of natural disasters on migration rates and how that varies according to the level of education. Estimations are made with a country fixed effects estimator through an accurate econometric model. The results confirm previous studies, namely that natural disasters are positively associated with emigration rates. But beyond this result, the main contribution of this paper is to show that natural disasters due to climate change exacerbate the brain drain in developing countries characterized by the migration of highly skilled people just when those countries are at their most vulnerable and need greater support from skilled workers to deal with the damage associated with natural disasters. The paper also shows that this effect varies depending on geographical location

Bride Price and Fertility Decisions: Evidence from Rural Senegal

This paper is the first to provide evidence about the relationship between bride price payments and fertility decisions in the African context. Remarkably, the results show that bride price payments reduce fertility pressure, with a woman reducing her number of children by 0.5 at the mean bride price. The results are robust to different tests that we conduct to address the potential endogeneity between bride price payments and fertility decisions. As possible transmission channels, we find that poor women and men with low levels of education are the most negatively affected by the tradition of bride price payments. Furthermore, a lower bride price payment increases fertility pressure in polygamous households and for arranged marriages, while the bride price payment has no effect on the couple's decisions concerning fertility in monogamous households and for love marriages. Consequently, given that bride price payments have less power over (economically) independent women, empowerment will give leeway to girls in traditional societies, even if the bride price system is not overturned

Environmental Disasters and Migration

This paper reviews the effect of environmental disasters on migration. Although there is an increase of environmental disasters and migration over the past years, the relationship is complex. While some authors find that environmental disasters increase migration, others show that they have only a marginal or no effect or are even negative. Migration appears to be an insurance mechanism against environmental shocks. Remittances help to decrease households' vulnerability to shocks but also dampen their adverse effects. Finally, we discuss policy implications and future research avenues

Effet des pratiques culturales et du contexte paysager sur l'abondance des populations de la mineuse de l'épi de mil, Heliocheilus albipunctella (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), dans la zone de Bambey au Sénégal

On s'intéresse ici aux effets des pratiques agricoles et du contexte paysager sur les communautés d'arthropodes (ravageurs et ennemis naturels) dans les systèmes de culture à base de céréales, à l'échelle de la parcelle et du paysage. Le système biologique ciblé est la mineuse de la chandelle de mil, Heliocheilus albipunctella de Joannis (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Une série d'observations sur les infestations et les dégâts du ravageur, sur la régulation naturelle du ravageur, mais aussi sur les pratiques culturales et l'état de la culture, a été conduite pendant les campagnes 2013 et 2014 sur un réseau de 45 parcelles d'observation (zone de 20*20 km, Bambey). Ces parcelles ont été sélectionnées selon deux gradients environnementaux de densité de végétation arborée et de surfaces cultivées en mil, pour tester les hypothèses suivantes : (i) la végétation arborée favorise la régulation par les populations d'ennemis naturels, et (ii) les infestations du ravageur augmentent avec la densité en mil. On cherche également à tester d'autres hypothèses liées aux pratiques culturales ou à l'état de la culture, comme par exemple, le fait qu'une levée précoce permette à la culture d'échapper au pic d'infestation du ravageur. Le traitement d'images THRS a permis de fournir une information riche sur la composition du paysage environnant les parcelles d'observation. L'incidence de la mineuse de l'épi de mil est importante (75% d'épis infestés), mais variable selon les parcelles, avec 34-94% des épis infestés par au moins une larve. Une régression multiple (Generalized Linear Model) montre que la précocité de la levée, la densité de mil autour des parcelles focales, et la distance au village le plus proche, ont un effet significatif sur l'abondance des populations larvaires de la mineuse. Les résultats sont discutés à la lumière de nouvelles hypothèses, notamment sur la régulation par les ennemis naturels. (Texte intégral