%0 Report
        %A Bonilla-Mejía, Leonardo
%A Bracco, Jessica
%A Gonzalez, Andres Ham
%A Peñaloza-Pacheco, Leonardo
        %T Is Drug-Related Violence Fueling Emigration from Central America?
        %D 2025
        %8 2025 Jul
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 18028
        %U https://www.iza.org/publications/dp18028
        %X We study how drug-related violence affects emigration from Central America, a region with rapidly rising migration to the United States. Using multiple data sources, we apply an instrumental variables strategy based on proximity to drug-trafficking routes and coca production in Colombia. We find that violence significantly increases intentions, plans, and preparations to emigrate—especially to the U.S.—with stronger effects among young and high-skilled individuals. Mediation analysis suggests this response is driven by declining economic activity and, more importantly, deteriorating labor market conditions caused by escalating violence.
        %K drug trafficking
%K violence
%K economic activity
%K labor markets
%K migration