Information frictions, belief updating and internal migration: Evidence from Ghana and Uganda
研究了随机提供地区收入差异信息对加纳和乌干达居民迁移意愿、目的地偏好和实际迁移的影响，发现信息改变了意愿和偏好，但实际迁移未增加。
Information frictions about benefits of migration can lead to inefficient migration choices. We study effects of randomly assigned information treatments concerning regional income differentials in Ghana and Uganda to explore participants’ belief updating and changes in internal migration intentions, destination preferences, and actual migration. Treated participants prefer higher income destinations, while effects on intent plausibly follow subjects’ initial under- or overestimation of potential gains, with asymmetric updating propensities. Effects persist for 18 months, and discussions with others about migrating increase, but actual migration does not. Knowledge about income affects intentions and destination choices, but barriers to actual relocation are complex.