constraints, leaving little space for optimizing behavior that characterizes economic migrants.

As suggested by the regression analysis in Table 3, refugees eventually choose to go to places with higher economic opportunities, and those who have more assets are able to travel farther. Refugees with larger household size make fewer moves within the country because each movement is plausibly costlier for these households. Qualitative interviews suggest that households with social networks in the host country move significantly more often than households without social networks.<sup>10</sup> In Lebanon, families with higher educational attainment move more frequently than families with lower educational levels, probably because more job opportunities are available to educated individuals.

# **_C. Human Capital Profile_**

Before considering welfare after displacement, we provide evidence on basic demographics and, especially, the education and work-experience profiles of Syrian forced migrants in neighboring countries. We first consider absolute rates of educational attainment in the UNHCR data. Then we use the data on the pre-crisis Syrian labor force and our survey to provide some evidence of selection (on observables) into migration to Lebanon, Jordan, and Kurdistan with respect to education and previous work experience.

There are very few highly educated refugees in any of these countries, according to UNHCR registration data. Less than 1 percent of refugees have completed university in any of these countries, and only about 10 percent have completed high school (results not shown). The majority of refugees in each country in these data have finished between basic and middle school. Our survey suggests that the number of individuals out of school with a graduate degree (or more) might be understated in the UNHCR data, but the main conclusions about the educational profile of Syrian refugees remain qualitatively unchanged. Data from the Syrian Labor Force Survey in 2010 reveal how the average migrant compares to Syrians participating in their country’s labor market before the crisis.

10 Focus group participants in the qualitative survey corroborated the strong influence of networks in determining current location choice in Lebanon and Jordan. Refugees in Lebanon explained that their current location in the host country was largely determined by pre-existing networks: either they had a relative already living in that location who could help them, or because they (if they were male) or their husband/other male relative (if they were female) were already working in that location pre-crisis. Although social networks also mattered in Jordan, they were less driven by pre-existing work ties. Focus group participants in Jordan were just as likely to explain preference for their current location by referring to the presence of their relatives. But they were more likely than refugees in Lebanon to say that they relied on a network of friends and acquaintances in choosing their destination. Other factors cited as influencing location choice included the ability to find jobs, living among others with similar ethnicity or religious background, affordability, and perceived security and safety. Examples of accounts on the subjects collected in the focus groups were: “My cousins were living here for 15 years. I called them before coming to Lebanon so they gave me the contact of a Lebanese landlord, who told me I could build a tent on his land.” _[Male, rural, Beqaa governorate, Lebanon]_ ; “We have relatives here, my sons are here, my daughter is married in Baalbek.” _[Female, urban, Beqaa governorate, Lebanon]_ ; “I used to work here and go back every day to Syria. Then when the war started I brought my whole family here.” _[Male, rural, North governorate, Lebanon]_ ; “I am from Daraa. I came straight to Huwwarah. I entered legally. My grandfather and uncle told us to come here. We stayed with them for a few days and then found our own place.” _[Male, Huwwarah, Irbid governorate, Jordan]_ ; “I didn’t know anyone in Amman. There were some Syrians in Homs who came to Amman before me. I communicated with them and they told me that they could help find me a sponsor.” _[Male, Amman city, Jordan]._ 6