External shocks and societal responses: an analysis of migration, war, and their effects on society

Societies are influenced by external shocks such as migration flows, armed conflicts, and natural disasters. Understanding how these shocks impact societies is crucial to mitigate negative effects. This thesis explores the socio-economic impacts of external shocks through three distinct yet interconnected essays. The first essay, titled "How does temporary labor migration affect voting behavior and political polarization? Evidence from the USA", investigates the effects of temporary labor migration on political outcomes in the United States. Exploiting microdata on employers’ applications for H2A and H2B temporary work visas and employing a Bartik-type instrument for the number of temporary labor migrants in each county, I examine how an influx of temporary workers affects political outcomes. I find that temporary labor migration decreases the vote share of anti-immigration parties and reduces far-right political polarization while increasing far-left polarization. The second essay, titled "Charitable Giving in Wartime: Evidence from Donations during Russia's Invasion of Ukraine", analyzes charitable giving during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Utilizing unique donation data to a large Ukrainian charity aiding the military, the study assesses how military events, casualties, and media coverage influence philanthropic behavior. The results indicate that both casualties and media mentions cause an increase in donations. The third essay, titled "The effect of war on academic achievement: Evidence from Ukraine", focuses on the impact of war exposure on academic achievement, looking at Ukrainian students following the 2022 Russian full-scale invasion. Leveraging the data from the PISA and a difference-in-differences approach, the analysis reveals a deterioration in Ukrainian students' academic performance. These essays contribute to a deeper understanding of how external shocks like migration and war influence political behavior, economic actions, and social outcomes. By employing rigorous empirical methodologies and leveraging unique datasets, the studies offer valuable insights into the ramifications of external shocks on societies.