Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Settlement or Mobility? Immigrants’ Re-migration Decision-Making Process in a High-Income Country Setting

  • Published:
Journal of International Migration and Integration Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the context of important migration flows within the EU/EFTA countries, understanding the process of migration decision-making is central to better comprehending current migration patterns in today’s legal context of free movement of persons. By means of newly collected survey data, this paper examines the emigration intentions and plans of German immigrants living in Switzerland. This migrant group presents a lower duration of residence at emigration than other nationalities and is highly educated and integrated in the labour market. The results show that labour market considerations prevail over family obligations. Furthermore, they confirm the heterogeneity between groups regarding emigration intentions, a finding that cannot be confirmed for emigration planning. Moreover, whereas emigration intentions are explained by perceived opportunity differentials and wishful thinking between the place of residence and the destination, emigration planning is based on real opportunities. Migration policy and, more specifically, integration policy have a small impact on emigration, since planning an emigration is triggered by external or personal factors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (2001). Efficacy of the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analytic review. British Journal of Social Psychology, 40(4), 471–499. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466601164939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbiano di Belgiojoso, E., & Ortensi, L. E. (2013). Should I stay or should I go? The case of Italy. Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica, 67(3/4), 31–38.

  • Bolzman, C., Fibbi, R., & Vial, M. (1993). Les immigrés face à la retraite : rester ou retourner ? Revue suisse d'économie politique et de statistique, 129(3), 371–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, M., & Arsene, C. (2009). The demographics of movers and stayers in the European Union. In E. Recchi & A. Favell (Eds.), Pioneers of European integration. Citizenship and mobility in the EU (pp. 26–51). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L. A., & Moore, E. G. (1970). The intra-urban migration process: A perspective. Geografiska Annaler. Series B, Human Geography, 52(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.2307/490436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai, R., Esipova, N., Oppenheimer, M., & Feng, S. (2014). International migration desires related to subjective well-being. IZA Journal of Migration, 3(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-9039-3-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caliński, T., & Harabasz, J. (1974). A dendrite method for cluster analysis. Communications in Statistics, 3(1), 1–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canache, D., Hayes, M., Mondak, J. J., & Wals, S. C. (2013). Openness, extraversion and the intention to emigrate. Journal of Research in Personality, 47(4), 351–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2013.02.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carling, J., & Pettersen, S. V. (2014). Return migration intentions in the integration–transnationalism matrix. International Migration, 52(6), 13–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassarino, J.-P. (2004). Theorising return migration: The conceptual approach to return migrants revisited. International Journal on Multicultural Studies, 6(2), 253–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coulter, R., van Ham, M., & Feijten, P. (2011). A longitudinal analysis of moving desires, expectations and actual moving behavior. Environment and Planning A, 43(11), 2742–2760. https://doi.org/10.1068/a44105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dabic, M., González-Loureiro, M., & Harvey, M. (2015). Evolving research on expatriates: What is ‘known’ after four decades (1970–2012). The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(3), 316–337. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.845238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Haas, H., & Fokkema, T. (2011). The effects of integration and transnational ties on return migration intentions. Demographic Research, 25, 755–782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Haas, H., Fokkema, T., & Fihri, M. F. (2015). Return migration as failure or success? The determinants of return migration intentions among Moroccan migrants in Europe. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 16(2), 415–429. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-014-0344-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Jong, G. F. (2000). Expectations, gender, and norms in migration decision-making. Population Studies, 54(3), 307–319. https://doi.org/10.1080/713779089.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dustmann, C. (1999). Temporary migration, human capital, and language fluency of migrants. The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 101(2), 297–314. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9442.00158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ette, A., & Sauer, L. (2010). Auswanderung aus Deutschland: Daten und Analysen zur internationalen Migration deutscher Staatsbürger. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ette, A., Heß, B., & Sauer, L. (2014). Tackling Germany's demographic skills shortage: Permanent settlement intentions of the recent wave of labour migrants. In European Population Conference (EPC), Budapest, 25–28 June 2014.

  • Faist, T. (2008). Migrants as transnational development agents: An inquiry into the newest round of the migration–development nexus. Population, Space and Place, 14(1), 21–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fassmann, H., & Hintermann, C. (1998). Potential east-west migration. Sociologický časopis / Czech Sociological Review, 6(1), 59–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Favell, A. (2008). Eurostars and eurocities. Free movement and mobility in an integrating Europe (Studies in Urban and Social Change). Malden: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garip, F. (2012). Discovering diverse mechanisms of migration: The Mexico–US stream 1970–2000. Population and Development Review, 38(3), 393–433. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2012.00510.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Güngör, N. D., & Tansel, A. (2008). Brain drain from Turkey: An investigation of students' return intentions. Applied Economics, 40(23), 3069–3087. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036840600993999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haberkorn, G. (1981). The migration decision-making process: Some social-psychological considerations. In G. F. De Jong & R. W. Gardner (Eds.), Migration decision making: Multidisciplinary approaches to microlevel studies in developed and developing countries (pp. 252–278). New York: Pergamon.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, W. S. (2011). Immigration and emigration decisions among highly skilled British expatriates in Vancouver. In K. Nicolopoulou, M. Karatas-Özkan, A. Tatli, & J. Taylor (Eds.), Global knowledge work: Diversity and relational perspectives (pp. 33–56). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hastie, T., Tibshirani, R., & Friedman, J. (2009). The elements of statistical learning: data mining, inference, and prediction (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hercog, M., & Siddiqui, M. Z. (2014). Experiences in the host countries and return plans: The case study of highly skilled Indians in Europe. In G. Tejada, U. Bhattacharya, B. Khadria, & C. Kuptsch (Eds.), Indian skilled migration and development. To Europe and back (pp. 213–235). New Delhi: Springer India.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ivlevs, A. (2015). Happy moves? Assessing the link between life satisfaction and emigration intentions. Kyklos, 68(3), 335–356. https://doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12086.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, P., & Pedersen, P. J. (2007). To stay or not to stay? Out-migration of immigrants from Denmark. International Migration, 45(5), 87–113. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.2007.00428.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joye, D., Pollien, A., Sapin, M., & Stähli, M. E. (2012). Who can be contacted by phone? Lessons from Switzerland. In S. Häder, M. Häder, & M. Kühne (Eds.), Telephone surveys in Europe: Research and practice (pp. 85–102). Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalter, F. (1997). Wohnortwechsel in Deutschland. Ein Beitrag zur Migrationstheorie und zur empirischen Anwendung von Rational-Choice-Modellen. Opladen: Leske + Budrich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, L., & Rousseeuw, P. J. (2009). Finding groups in data: An introduction to cluster analysis. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khoo, S.-E., & Mak, A. (2000). Permanent settlement or return migration: the role of career and family factors. Paper presented at the 10th biennial conference of the Australian Population Association, Melbourne, 28 November to 1 December.

  • King, R. (2002). Towards a new map of European migration. International Journal of Population Geography, 8(2), 89–106. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijpg.246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kley, S. (2011). Explaining the stages of migration within a life-course framework. European Sociologie Review, 27(4), 469–486. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcq020.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kley, S. (2013). Migration in the face of unemployment and unemployment risk: A case study of temporal and regional effects. Comparative Population Studies, 38(1), 109–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kley, S., & Mulder, C. H. (2010). Considering, planning, and realizing migration in early adulthood. The influence of life-course events and perceived opportunities on leaving the city in Germany. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 25(1), 73–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-009-9167-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, M. (2011). Analyzing migration decisionmaking: Relationships between residential satisfaction, mobility intentions, and moving behavior. Environment and Planning A, 30(8), 1473–1495. https://doi.org/10.1068/a301473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mak, A. S. (1997). Skilled Hong Kong immigrants' intention to repatriate. Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 6(2), 169–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/011719689700600202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mara, I., & Landesmann, M. (2013). Do I stay because I am happy or am I happy because I stay? Life satisfaction in migration, and the decision to stay permanently, return and out-migrate. Norface Migration Discussion Paper, 2013–08,

  • Massey, D. S., & Akresh, I. R. (2006). Immigrant intentions and mobility in a global economy: The attitudes and behavior of recently arrived US immigrants. Social Science Quarterly, 87(5), 954–971. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2006.00410.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mooi, E., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). A concise guide to market research. The process, data, and methods using IBM SPSS statistics. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, D. S. (2012). Middling transnationalism and translocal lives: Young Germans in the UK. Doctoral thesis, University of Sussex.

  • Mulder, C. H., & Wagner, M. (1993). Migration and marriage in the life course: A method for studying synchronized events. European Journal of Population, 9(1), 55–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01267901.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piguet, E. (2012). The move to move - what motivates West African university students to consider leaving their countries. SNIS working paper.

  • Prognos, A. G. (2008). Gründe für die Auswanderung von Fach- und Führungskräften aus Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft. Endbericht im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Technologie.

  • Pungas, E., Toomet, O., Tammaru, T., & Anniste, K. (2012). Are better educated migrants returning? Evidence from multi-dimensional education data. Norface Migration Discussion Paper, 2012–18,

  • Reitz, J. G. (1998). Warmth of the welcome: The social causes of economic success for immigrants in different nations and cities. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Remhof, S., Gunkel, M., & Schlaegel, C. (2014). Goodbye Germany! The influence of personality and cognitive factors on the intention to work abroad. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25(16), 2319–2343. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2014.884613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richter, M. (2004). Contextualizing gender and migration: Galician immigration to Switzerland. International Migration Review, 38(1), 263–286. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-7379.2004.tb00196.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, P. H. (1980). Why families move. Beverly Hills: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, L., & Mulholland, J. (2014). Trading places: French highly skilled migrants negotiating mobility and emplacement in London. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 40(4), 584–600. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2013.787514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santacreu, O., Baldoni, E., & Albert, M. C. (2009). Deciding to move: Migration projects in an integrating Europe. In E. Recchi & A. Favell (Eds.), Pioneers of European integration. Citizenship and mobility in the EU (pp. 52–71). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sell, R. R., & De Jong, G. F. (1983). Deciding whether to move: Mobility, wishful thinking and adjustment. Sociology & Social Research, 67(2), 146–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • SETMOBIL. (2017). Settlement or mobility? Survey data file 2015. Lausanne: FORS, FORSbase.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soon, J.-J. (2008). The determinants of international students' return intention. University of Otago. Economics Discussion Papers, 0806.

  • Speare, A. (1974). Residential satisfaction as an intervening variable in residential mobility. Demography, 11(2), 173–188. https://doi.org/10.2307/2060556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stegemann, T. (2011). Die Rückkehr immer wieder aufgeschoben. terra cognita, 18(2011), 64–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stegmann, T. (2007). Einflussfaktoren auf die Rückkehrorientierung ehemaliger Gastarbeiter in Deutschland. Saarbrücken: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, V., & Velling, J. (1992). Re-migration behaviour and expected duration of stay of guest-workers in Germany. ZEW Discussion Papers, 92–14.

  • Taylor, E. (1976). The social adjustment of returned migrants to Jamaica. In F. Henry (Ed.), Ethnicity in the Americas (pp. 213–229). The Hague: Mouton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tharenou, P., & Caulfield, N. (2010). Will I stay or will I go? Explaining repatriation by self-initiated expatriates. Academy of Management Journal, 53(5), 1009–1028. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMJ.2010.54533183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Baalen, B., & Müller, T. (2009). Return intentions of temporary migrants: the case of Germany. Paper presented at the Second Conference of Transnationality of Migrants, Louvain, 23–24 January.

  • van Dalen, H. P., & Henkens, K. (2007). Longing for the good life: Understanding emigration from a high-income country. Population and Development Review, 33(1), 37–65. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2007.00158.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dalen, H. P., & Henkens, K. (2008). Emigration intentions: mere words or true plans? Explaining international migration intentions and behavior. Discussion Paper CentER, 2008–60.

  • van Dalen, H. P., & Henkens, K. (2013). Explaining emigration intentions and behaviour in the Netherlands, 2005–10. Population Studies: A Journal of Demography, 67(2), 225–241. https://doi.org/10.1080/00324728.2012.725135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Ham, M., Mulder, C. H., & Hooimeijer, P. (2001). Spatial flexibility in job mobility: Macrolevel opportunities and microlevel restrictions. Environment and Planning A, 33(5), 921–940. https://doi.org/10.1068/a33164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waldorf, B. (1995). Determinants of international return migration intentions. The Professional Geographer, 47(2), 125–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, R. (2006). Generalized ordered logit/partial proportional odds models for ordinal dependent variables. The Stata Journal, 6, 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Thanks go to Didier Ruedin, Rosita Fibbi and Gianni D’Amato from the SFM in Neuchâtel, to Andreas Ette and Lenore Sauer from the BiB in Wiesbaden, and to Philippe Wanner and Adrien Remund and Manuela Schicka for their valuable advices.

Funding

This work was financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) under Grant 100017_156563 and supported for English proofreading by the Institute of Demography and Socioeconomics IDESO of the University of Geneva.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Demography and Socioeconomics IDESO, University of Geneva, UniMail, IDESO, 40 bd. du Pont d’Arve, 1211, Genève-4, Switzerland

    Ilka Steiner

Authors
  1. Ilka Steiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ilka Steiner.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Steiner, I. Settlement or Mobility? Immigrants’ Re-migration Decision-Making Process in a High-Income Country Setting. Int. Migration & Integration 20, 223–245 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-018-0602-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-018-0602-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation