Theories of Migration

1
Theories of Migration

• Tasneem Siddiqui
• Professor, Dept. of Political Science
• and
• Chair, RMMRU
• University of Dhaka

2

• Causes of Migration
• Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui
• Consequences of Migration
• Dr. Ganesh Gurung
• Recent Theoretical Approaches
• Mr. Jeetendra Soni

3
Theories Causes of Migration

• Aim
• To understand why some people migrate and others
  do not
• Variety of theoretical models available
• Social scientists from different disciplines

4
Neo-Classical Economics

• Macro-Economic Models of Neo-Classical Economics
• Geographic difference in demand and supply for
  labour
• Surplus of labour compared to capital will have
  lower wage rate
• Limited supply of labour compared to capital will
  have high wage rate causing movement of wage
  labour
• (Lewis, 1954 Ranis and Feni 1961 Harris and
  Todaro, 1970 Todaro, 1976)

5
Push-Pull Framework

• Equal pressure of pull from receiving country and
  push from sending countries jointly contribute to
  migration
• Migration brings certain equilibrium between
  forces of economic growth and contraction among
  different geographical regions of the world
• Two equally important forces one operational at
  the country of origin and the other at host
  country, jointly create migration

6
Micro Economic Model

• Human Capital Theory/Rational Choice Theory
• Rational economically based decision of the
  individual to maximize return to his/her human
  capital over space
• Person is likely to migrate if expected income is
  greater in a location other than where his
  currently residing.
• Desire for income maximization
• Difference in wage
• Difference in employment opportunity
• (Sjaastad, 1962 Todaro 1969)

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Critique of Neoclassical Theories

• New economics of migration
• Neoclassical theories explain migration pattern
  of industrial era, but current day migration is
  more complex
• Economic disparities appear to be necessary but
  not sufficient condition for todays migration
• In the 1990s push and pull factors not equally
  operational
• Strength of pull factor has weakened due to
  restrictive admission policies of the receiving
  post-industrial states
• Decisions to migrate is not made by isolated
  individuals, rather it is arrived at collectively
  by larger family units and communities
• Migration not only maximizes expected income but
  also minimizes risks of market failure
• Migration is a risk reducing strategy, not for
  individual but for the household

8
Historical Structuralist School

• Broader social and historical forces created
  conditions of widespread inequalities in access
  to resources, political power and prestige with
  and across communities which both stimulate and
  constrain migration
• (Singer, 1971-75 Stern 1988)
• Social Capital Theory
• Social capital is the sum of resources, actual or
  virtual, that accrue to an individual or a group
  by virtue of possessing a durable network of
  institutional relationships of mutual
  acquaintance and recognition
• People gain access to social capital through
  membership in network

9
Social Capital Theory (contd.)

• Kinship, friendship and shared community, origin
• Network increases the likelihood of migration by
  reducing cost and risk
• Private recruiting agencies
• Information, trade links, higher education links
• (Bouriu and Wacqueant 1992)

10
Conclusion

• Migration decisions are arrived through a complex
  process
• It is not possible to explain migration decisions
  by a single theory
• A holistic perspective derived from
  historical-structuralist, push-pull, rational
  choice, social-network provides a better tool.