Familiar faces, familiar places: The role of family networks and previous experience for Albanian migrants

Abstract

Using data from the 2003 Albania Panel Survey, this paper examines the evolution of Albanian international migration since the fall of Communism in 1990 and explores, using multivariate analysis, what individual, household and community level factors influence decisions to migrate internationally. We find evidence of important changes over time in the pull and push factors that drive migration flows. While early on in the transition political and economic factors were predominant, over t ime personal experience and household migration networks assumed fundamental roles. Furthermore, the spatial configuration of migration is also changing as both temporary and permanent migration expand into new parts of the country. The results have important policy implications. First, policies aimed at controlling migration are likely to be less effective where networks have already developed or where engrained patterns of repeat migration are established. Second, despite increasing legal ity, migration, particularly for newcomers, is still risky and often illegal. Third, educated individuals have a higher propensity to migrate permanently, a serious potential risk in terms of brain drain.