Riassunto analitico
The effects of immigration on bilateral trade between country of origin and country of destination are now extensively researched in the economic literature. These effects are a consequence of immigrants being able to lower the invisible barriers hindering international trade. Most of these studies consider migrant networks, without distinguishing between male and female effects. In this study I analyse the effect of foreign students and immigrants on the bilateral trade between Italy and foreign economies by separately considering males and females. The general hypothesis is that the international network connections created by students during university or after graduation can also have important trade effects. Moreover, I check for world regions disaggregation because Italy does not have the same trade everywhere, but varies from region to region. The analysis takes into account the period between 2004 and 2018 and is based on 140 developing and underdeveloped partner countries. The empirical strategy is based on Pooled OLS models. Results show opposite signs between male and female students and immigrants. Immigrant females are more likely to increase trade with Italy than male immigrants, while male foreign students have a stronger positive effect on trade than females. Moreover, students from Europe and South Asia have higher positive effects on trade than students from other world areas. Finally, networks connected to dissimilar areas have strong effects on bilateral exports.
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Abstract
The effects of immigration on bilateral trade between country of origin and country of destination are now extensively researched in the economic literature. These effects are a consequence of immigrants being able to lower the invisible barriers hindering international trade. Most of these studies consider migrant networks, without distinguishing between male and female effects. In this study I analyse the effect of foreign students and immigrants on the bilateral trade between Italy and foreign economies by separately considering males and females. The general hypothesis is that the international network connections created by students during university or after graduation can also have important trade effects. Moreover, I check for world regions disaggregation because Italy does not have the same trade everywhere, but varies from region to region. The analysis takes into account the period between 2004 and 2018 and is based on 140 developing and underdeveloped partner countries. The empirical strategy is based on Pooled OLS models. Results show opposite signs between male and female students and immigrants. Immigrant females are more likely to increase trade with Italy than male immigrants, while male foreign students have a stronger positive effect on trade than females. Moreover, students from Europe and South Asia have higher positive effects on trade than students from other world areas. Finally, networks connected to dissimilar areas have strong effects on bilateral exports.
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