Refugee or Internally Displaced Person? To Where Should One Flee?

Abstract:     
This study investigates the circumstances that lead some countries to produce a large number of refugees and relatively few internally displaced persons (IDPs) as opposed to a large number of IDPs and relatively few refugees. We develop the hypothesis that refugee flows are greater in the face of state (sponsored) genocide/politicide than they are in response to other state coercion, dissident campaigns of violence, or civil wars. We also argue that countries surrounded by poor, authoritarian regimes will produce fewer refugees (relative to IDPs) than those surrounded by wealthy, democratic neighbors. We employ a sample selection model to conduct statistical analyses using data on a global sample of countries for the period 1976-1995. Our results support many of our hypotheses and suggest that the choice-centered approach produces useful answers to new questions that other scholars have yet to ask.

Keywords: Refugees, forced migration, internally displaced persons

JEL Classifications: F22, D74, H57

Accepted Paper Series