What policies are needed to deter irregular migration from Africa to Europe?

While attempting to reach Europe, irregular migrants undertake extremely risky journeys across the Mediterranean Sea. Embarking on this perilous route to Europe remains one of the most popular migration options for many sub-Saharan Africans. Policymakers have scaled up their efforts to curb this phenomenon. Nevertheless, the impact of these interventions has never been rigorously evaluated, which leaves room both for unintended effects and for the waste of resources spent on policies that may be ineffective. In this context, it is crucial to implement rigorous impact evaluations of the policies aiming to prevent irregular migration. In order to be successful, such interventions must evaluate the relevant factors in the decision-making process of the potential migrants. Do they know how risky their intended voyage is? Do they have realistic expectations regarding their chances of being granted asylum upon arrival? If not, are their migration intentions and decisions affected by more accurate information? What other policies could be put in place to save lives in this process?...