Migrant networks: empirical implications for the Italian bilateral trade

A significant number of empirical studies, focusing on different countries, have found apositive link between migration and trade. This paper studies the relationship between emigration,immigration and trade using Italian data. The sample regards 51 foreign trading partners and spansfrom 1990 to 2005. The results suggest that: networks of Italian emigrants in foreign countriesboost bilateral trade. The effects of immigrants are weak, on exports, or negative, on imports.Results do not change when the cultural and institutional dissimilarities between countries areconsidered.