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New Thesis: Three questions for Marcos Castillo

Photo of Marcos Castillo

On 27 September he will be defending his doctoral dissertation: Roots Across the Atlantic: Social Networks and Economic Outcomes from the Swedish Mass Migration to the United States, 1880–1920. But before that we wanted to get to know a little bit more about Marcos Castillo and his work ad the department of Economic History.

You are about to defend your thesis, what is it about?

My dissertation explores the Swedish mass migration to the US during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Specifically, I examine how the migration of people close to the individual influenced the likelihood of emigration, I quantify the economic benefits of migration for both men and women, and analyze how migrant networks in the US helped in their integration into the labor market. The main findings indicate that kinship played a crucial role in the decision to emigrate, while broader social networks were more significant for economic integration. Additionally, migration proved to be highly beneficial for these individuals, but likely much more for women.

In three words, how would you describe your years as a PhD student at LUSEM?

Rigorous, fulfilling, empowering.

What are you up to now?

I am working on a project in the Department of Economic History related to linking historical datasets, while also revising my papers, preparing for my defense, and handling the logistics of my defense party!


Thank you Marcos, we wish you all the best with both the defense and the party after!
 

You can read Marcos's thesis here