Title: International migration: definitions and current practices
1International migration definitions and current
practices
- Enrico Bisogno
- UN Economic Commission for Europe
- Statistical Division
2Outline of the presentation
- Migration flows ? definitions and approaches
- Migration stocks ? definitions, approaches, some
data and a proposal
3A first simple question
- Who is a migrant?
- Somebody who moves.
4Three possible criteria
- Individual characteristics
- Purpose of stay
- Duration of stay
51) Individual characteristics
- Foreigners
- Diplomats
- Military
- Foreign-born
- etc
62) Purpose of stay
- Labour
- Asylum
- Family reunification
- Visitors/tourists
- etc.
73) Duration of stay
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year
- etc.
8A combined approach
- A migrant is a person changing his/her place of
usual residence
9Place of usual residence
- On-going discussion
- Objective approach
- Subjective approach
10Demographic perspective
- Migrants included in the population balance
- P t1 Pt B - D I - E
11Demographic perspective
- An immigrant is counted when he/she enters the
population - An emigrant is cancelled when he/she exits from
the population
121998 UN Recommendations
- An additional requirement
- 1 year or more of residence
13Two types of migrants (1998 UN Rec.)
- Long-term migrants
- (12 months and more)
- Short-term migrants
- (3 to 12 months)
14Implications
- Statistical system
- (definitions and sources)
- Policy perspective
15How to deal with traditional typologies?
- Asylum seekers
- Irregular migrants
- Returning migrants
- Returning nationals
- etc.
16Some current issues on flows
- No emigration data
- Differences in data availability between
nationals and foreigners - Different requirements in terms of intended
duration of stay
17A second simple question
- Who are the migrants
- living in your country?
181998 UN Recommendations
- Two subpopulations of interest
Foreigners
Foreign-born
19Some definitions
- Foreigners
- Persons living in the country without the
citizenship of that country
- Foreign-born
- Persons living in the country but born in another
country
20Some practices
Criteria used in 18 countries of Eastern Europe
and CIS
Citizenship 14
Place of birth 7
Ethnic group 2
Other 4
21Some current practices
- Canada
- France
- United States
22Some current practices
- Germany
- Sweden
- Switzerland
23Some current practices
24Some current practices
25Who has more immigrants?
26Country of birth
PROS
PROS
CONS
- Evidence of migration
- Unique
- Does not change
- Objective
- Some Nationals can be included
- Changes of borders
- 2nd generation excluded
- Not policy relevant
27Citizenship
CONS
PROS
- Unstable
- National regulations
- Not unique
- Legally relevant
- Objective
- Easily detectable
- Many statistical sources
28Ethnic group
CONS
PROS
- Directly addressing social dimension
- Identify social groups also in the long run
- Subjective
- Political sensitive
- Difficult to detect
293 different options on the border
- Geographical (place of birth)
- Legal (citizenship)
- Social (ethnic group)
302000 Census Round some interesting indications
in ECE region
- Country of birth 44 countries
- Country of citizenship 42 countries
- Ethnic group 27 Countries
312000 Census Round some interesting indications
in ECE region
- 29 Countries asked additional questions on
birth and/or citizenship - Multiple citizenship
- Citizenship at birth/by naturalization
- Country of birth of parents
32The various groups
33A possible classification of total population
Parents' place of birth
Place of birth
Citizenship
parent country or abroad
Nationals (at birth)
parent country
Natives
Nationals (by naturalization)
1st generation immigrants
abroad
abroad
Foreigners
Nationals (at birth or by naturalization)
2nd generation immigrants
parent country
abroad
Foreigners
34Immigrant background advantages
- Comprehensive framework
- Stable
- Objective
- Analytical capacity
35Comparisons (1)
- Imm-background vs. national definitions
36Comparisons (2)
- Imm-background vs. foreigners
37Comparisons (3)
- of foreigners in imm.background
38Some conclusions (1)
Stocks
39Some conclusions (2)
Stocks
40Some conclusions (3)
Stocks