Abstract - Insights from Evidence on Colombia's Regularization Programs for Venezuelan Forced Migrants

Colombia’s regularization of 2.8 million Venezuelan forced migrants, equivalent to 5% of its population, significantly improved migrant well-being without negatively affecting native workers or social cohesion. The policy had no significant effects on employment, wages, or labor participation among Colombians and minimal impact on electoral turnout or political preferences. While crime reports remained largely unchanged for natives, female migrants reported increased cases of sexual and domestic abuse. Migrants experienced notable welfare gains, including a 48% increase in per capita consumption, a 22% rise in monthly income, better health outcomes, enhanced access to social protection, healthcare, and financial services, and reduced fertility rates due to better access to family planning and job opportunities.

Research brief is available here.

Biography

Sandra Rozo is a Senior Economist in the Poverty and Inequality Team of the Development Research Group at the World Bank. She received a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) and M.A. (Cum Laude) in Economics from Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, and a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from UCLA.

More information about Prof. Rozo

Contact: across@uni.lu

An event supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) (PRIDE19/14302992) and (RESCOM/2024/LE/18786706)

Doctoral Lecture Series with Sandra Rozo (World Bank)