Migrant entry channels and family - related migratory patterns in Europe: a theoretical and empirical investigation

Cangiano, Alessio and Impicciatore, R. (2015) Migrant entry channels and family - related migratory patterns in Europe: a theoretical and empirical investigation. [Professional and Technical Reports]

Preview

PDF - Published Version Download (588kB) | Preview

Abstract

Despite the quantitative relevance of family-related migration in most European countries, few studies have attempted to shed light on how migration policies affect family-level migration strategies. The nature of this knowledge gap is both theoretical and empirical. Conceptually, framing the intersections between the macro-level institutional frameworks underpinned by immigration policies, the meso-level functioning of social networks and the micro-level family decision-making is a challenging task. From an empirical perspective, sound analysis of the family and migratory patterns vis-à-vis the institutional frameworks regulating admission, settlement and the right to family reunification is jeopardised by the lack of data sources that keep track of immigration status on entry (and the subsequent status changes), of the family history prior to migration, and of the patterns and timing of household formation in the country of destination. This paper attempts to address these knowledge gaps. Its overarching aim is to contribute to a better understanding of how admission channels shape household composition and the patterns and timing of family migratory processes. The paper begins with a conceptual review and synthesis of the links between immigration policies, migratory processes and household decision-making strategies. The following empirical analysis is based on the 2008 Ad-Hoc Module on migrant workers of the EU Labour Force Survey for eleven EU receiving countries (Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom). A set of indicators is used to describe the migrant household composition and timing of families’ migratory pattern. Results reveal distinctive family-related migration patterns and migrant household composition by route of entry, suggesting that selective admission policies define the composition of the migrant families at different stages of the migratory experience, disrupting the cohabitation of spouses and, even more often, of different generations. One major feature of the association is its strong gendered connotation.

Item Type:	Professional and Technical Reports
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HA Statistics H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Divisions:	Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) > School of Economics
Depositing User:	Alessio Cangiano
Date Deposited:	05 Dec 2016 03:20
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2016 03:20
URI:	http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/9455

UNSPECIFIED

Actions (login required)

View Item