Migrants and imports: Evidence from dutch firms

This paper examines the effect of hiring migrants on firms' imports using a rich employer–employee dataset from Netherlands for 2010–17. We use an instrumental variables strategy, and find that firms employ high-income country are more likely to import country. Our benchmark specification indicates one standard deviation increase in share migrant workers certain raises their employer's probability importing those workers' origin by 6.6 percentage points, explaining half average given result is robust battery sensitivity checks, effects driven largely working trade intermediaries final goods inputs. results suggest help erode informational barriers enable employers source abroad.