6 Migration
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Steffen Mau
Abstract
In the social sciences, a variety of theoretical concepts are used to explain the causes, process and consequences of migration. One can distinguish between macro- and micro-oriented approaches, concepts illuminating the integration of migrants, and transnational migration theories (an overview of the concepts and the history of migration is provided by Bade, 1987; Fassmann and Münz, 1994; Portes and DeWind, 2007; Brettell and Hollifield, 2008; Castles and Miller, 2009; and Bade et al, 2011).
A model that is particularly important in research on migration is the ‘push-pull model’. Adopting a macro-theoretical perspective, this concept explains the causes of migration in terms of the interplay between factors of repulsion (away from the country of origin) and factors of attraction (towards the destination country), and places income differentials at the centre of the model of explanation (Lee, 1966). In classical research on migration, it is assumed that migrants behave in accordance with the principle of economic rationalism, meaning that they are intent on improving their income and standard of living by migrating (Lee, 1966; Rist, 1978; Hoffmann-Nowotny, 1981; Stark, 1984; Castles, 1986; Feithen, 1986). In this view, the causes of migration lie above all in disparities in economic and demographic conditions (the labour market, wage levels, population development) in the origin and target regions. The central push factor as well as the main pull factor, it is argued, resides in the labour market, namely wage differentials. This argument stems from concepts developed in economics endeavouring to explain labour market mobility (Stark, 1984, 1993; Stark and Bloom, 1985; Chiswick, 2008).
Abstract
In the social sciences, a variety of theoretical concepts are used to explain the causes, process and consequences of migration. One can distinguish between macro- and micro-oriented approaches, concepts illuminating the integration of migrants, and transnational migration theories (an overview of the concepts and the history of migration is provided by Bade, 1987; Fassmann and Münz, 1994; Portes and DeWind, 2007; Brettell and Hollifield, 2008; Castles and Miller, 2009; and Bade et al, 2011).
A model that is particularly important in research on migration is the ‘push-pull model’. Adopting a macro-theoretical perspective, this concept explains the causes of migration in terms of the interplay between factors of repulsion (away from the country of origin) and factors of attraction (towards the destination country), and places income differentials at the centre of the model of explanation (Lee, 1966). In classical research on migration, it is assumed that migrants behave in accordance with the principle of economic rationalism, meaning that they are intent on improving their income and standard of living by migrating (Lee, 1966; Rist, 1978; Hoffmann-Nowotny, 1981; Stark, 1984; Castles, 1986; Feithen, 1986). In this view, the causes of migration lie above all in disparities in economic and demographic conditions (the labour market, wage levels, population development) in the origin and target regions. The central push factor as well as the main pull factor, it is argued, resides in the labour market, namely wage differentials. This argument stems from concepts developed in economics endeavouring to explain labour market mobility (Stark, 1984, 1993; Stark and Bloom, 1985; Chiswick, 2008).
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables v
- List of figures vi
- Acknowledgements viii
- List of EU countries ix
- Introduction and conceptual considerations 1
-
The European social model from a historical perspective
- Commonalities and intra-European exchange 9
- Political-economic models and institutional arrangements 49
-
European societies compared
- Political-economic models and institutional arrangements 49
- Population and family 87
- Migration 115
- Labour market and employment 135
- Education 173
- Social inequality 193
- Quality of life 225
-
European integration and European society in the making
- Institutional and political aspects of Europeanisation 263
- The dynamics of inequality in Europe 285
- Horizontal Europeanisation 303
- Subjective Europeanisation 329
- Conclusion: rise of a European society? 349
- References 357
- Index 417
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables v
- List of figures vi
- Acknowledgements viii
- List of EU countries ix
- Introduction and conceptual considerations 1
-
The European social model from a historical perspective
- Commonalities and intra-European exchange 9
- Political-economic models and institutional arrangements 49
-
European societies compared
- Political-economic models and institutional arrangements 49
- Population and family 87
- Migration 115
- Labour market and employment 135
- Education 173
- Social inequality 193
- Quality of life 225
-
European integration and European society in the making
- Institutional and political aspects of Europeanisation 263
- The dynamics of inequality in Europe 285
- Horizontal Europeanisation 303
- Subjective Europeanisation 329
- Conclusion: rise of a European society? 349
- References 357
- Index 417
