We study the decision to emigrate of academics of Jewish origin dismissed from their positions by the Mussolini government in 1938, when new Racial Laws were introduced, opening a new phase of increased persecution of Jews by restricting their rights and livelihoods. We use rich individual-level data on the universe of Jewish full professors, revealing their family situation, domestic and international academic recognition, and political orientation. Jewish academics with children, with Jewish spouses, those whose parents are deceased, as well as young, and internationally recognised scholars are more likely to emigrate. Jewish academics who are either openly fascist or anti-fascist are less likely to emigrate. The probability of emigration is also affected by: (1) a higher sense of what Albert O. Hischman defines as loyalty, the attachment to local institutions; (2) the characteristics of relational capital, as represented by the social networks of the University professors under scrutiny.
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