Thumbnail Image

Multiple moves and return migration within developing countries: A comparative analysis

Year of publication 2020

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 21 p.

Author Andrea Cattaneo; Robinson, S.;

Publisher John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ;

Product type Article

Synopsis (short abstract) This paper sheds new light on internal migration processes by estimating stylized migration histories for populations in 31 countries. The focus is on repeat migration and on return migration back to rural areas from urban areas. Migration histories are portrayed by introducing migration pathway matrices, representing the shares of the population (by gender) that have moved or stayed in rural and urban areas over three periods (childhood and two forward periods). Using data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), the estimation of national migration pathway matrices was done with an information-theoretic procedure using maximum-entropy econometrics to estimate migration frequencies by population groups. Moving multiple times is found to be a consolidated practice in all countries analysed. Sizeable urban-to-rural migration flows are found, with rural returnees often contributing substantially to these flows. This phenomenon is more pronounced in countries in relatively early phases of economic development and among male migrants. For the sample of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, on average, 51% of men and 32% of women migrating from urban to rural areas are return migrants who lived in rural areas as children. Results indicate many migrants move multiple times: In the overall sample of countries, at least 43% of men and 36% of women who move once will move a second time (or more), accounting for nearly 120 million individuals. We find large differences in migration histories across genders, with these differences tending to be smaller for countries that are further along their economic development path and more urbanised.

This open access article is academically peer-reviewed and published externally in Population, Space and Place: Volume26, Issue 7, October 2020

Cite this content as:

Cattaneo, A., & Robinson, S. (2020). Multiple moves and return migration within developing countries: A comparative analysis. Population, Space and Place, 26(7), e2335. 
https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2335

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Economic development and the evolution of internal migration. Moving in steps, returnees, and gender differences 2019
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This paper sheds new light on internal migration processes by estimating migration flows for 31 countries, focusing on step migration and on return migration back to rural areas from urban areas. The approach is to estimate the shares of the population (by gender) that move or stay in rural and urban areas over three periods (childhood and two forward periods). Using data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), the estimation was done with an information-theoretic procedure using maximum-entropy econometrics to estimate migration frequencies by population groups. Sizeable urban to rural migration flows are found, with rural returnees often contributing substantially to urban-to-rural flows. This phenomenon is more pronounced in countries in relatively early phases of development, and among male migrants. The analysis also confirms anecdotal evidence that migrants move in several steps and that internal migration patterns vary considerably according to gender; however, in countries that are further along the path of structural transformation, and particularly urbanization, the magnitude of migration flows appears to be similar across genders.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Rural Migration in the Near East and North Africa – Regional trends 2019
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The Near East and North Africa (NENA) has always been affected and in many ways shaped by the high levels of human mobility. However, rural migration - or migration to, from and between rural areas - is often overlooked, despite its important ramifications for food security, agriculture, rural development and regional disparities. In the next decade, persistent poverty, climatic threats and increasing competition for natural resources may fuel greater levels of migration across NENA countries. This report was designed to provide policy makers, practitioners and development partners with an overview of the main challenges and opportunities of rural migration in the NENA region.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Rural migration in sub-Saharan Africa: patterns, drivers and relation to structural transformation
    Rural employment working paper
    2019
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Sub-Saharan Africa has a long history of internal and international migratory movements. Migration patterns and dynamics from, to and between rural areas are profoundly differentiated across regions, and flows have considerably evolved over time. Yet, more recently, rural migration takes place in the unique situation of a major rural and urban demographic increase, which results in critical socio-economic and environmental challenges. In this context, intertwined migration drivers emerge and call for a better understanding of on-going dynamics. This working paper draws on a combination of literature review and data analysis, building on the results of the Atlas "Rural Africa in motion. Dynamics and drivers of migration South of the Sahara". This mixed approach is used to propose a conceptual framework based on past, current and future drivers of migration, then to examine observed patterns of rural migration and finally to discuss drivers’ characteristics and dynamics from case studies and existing datasets.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.