Cultural change and the migration choice

Abstract Cultural differences play an important role in shaping migration patterns. The conventional proxies for cross country cultural differences, such as common language; ethnicity; genetic traits; or religion, implicitly assume that proximity between two countries is constant over time and symmetric. This far from realistic. paper proposes a gravity model international which explicitly allows the varying asymmetric dimensions of proximity. In accordance with Disdier, Tai, Fontagné, Mayer (Rev World Econ, 145(4):575–595, 2010) we evolution bilateral affinity reflected intensity trade goods. empirical framework includes comprehensive set high dimensional fixed effects enable identification impact on beyond effect pre-existing historical ties. results are robust across different econometric techniques suggest positive changes relationships foster migration.