Role Models and Migration Intensions

This paper investigates the impact of role models on intentions to migrate in rural Mali, implementing an RCT. Three documentaries are shown depicting successful life stories of non-migrants and migrants, and one unsuccessful migrant’s life story. None has significant average impact. We however find an identification process and that positive role models impact welfare aspirations and locus of control. The high welfare aspirations and a strong feeling of lack of control over the future may explain no average impact on migration intentions. Heterogeneity analysis suggests working in agriculture, health, aspirations and belonging to migrant’s household influence the strength of response