Why return migrants return: survey evidence of motives for internal return migration in Sweden
Author
Summary, in English
Internal return migration has received limited attention in most western countries, despite studies attesting to its potential for helping understand population redistribution. This paper compares differences in self-reported motives for migration between return and
non-return migrants. Particular attention is paid to differences in individual characteristics and in the types of places these two migrant groups seek. The large-scale Swedish survey data employed in this study make it the most exhaustive on the subject to date, enabling the exploration of different perspectives on migrant motivations. The results indicate signifi cant differences in
motivation between return and non-return migrants, even after controlling for differences in individual characteristics and migration patterns. In particular, return migrants are much more likely to move for social reasons and much less likely to move for educational reasons. The evidence is less clear-cut regarding the other motives investigated in this study: although there are indications that employment factors may facilitate return
migration, return migration is largely driven by social considerations.
non-return migrants. Particular attention is paid to differences in individual characteristics and in the types of places these two migrant groups seek. The large-scale Swedish survey data employed in this study make it the most exhaustive on the subject to date, enabling the exploration of different perspectives on migrant motivations. The results indicate signifi cant differences in
motivation between return and non-return migrants, even after controlling for differences in individual characteristics and migration patterns. In particular, return migrants are much more likely to move for social reasons and much less likely to move for educational reasons. The evidence is less clear-cut regarding the other motives investigated in this study: although there are indications that employment factors may facilitate return
migration, return migration is largely driven by social considerations.
Publishing year
2011
Language
English
Pages
656-673
Publication/Series
Population Space and Place
Volume
17
Issue
5
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Topic
- Human Geography
- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Keywords
- internal return migration
- motives
- survey data
- Sweden
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1544-8452