Time-space dynamics of return and circular migration: Theories and evidence
Amelie Constant
#2020-004
This chapter undertook the monumental task of providing a complete
outlook about return, repeat, circular and onward migration by bringing
together the perspectives of the host and the home country. In this
endeavor, it reviewed and evaluated all theories about why people move,
when they circulate, where they go, who are the people who migrate, who
are the people who return, and how they change the economic and social
structures in the home country. In the process, it revealed the new norm
of joint decision-making by the family as a unit and underlined the
importance of non-economic reasons for return. The chapter further
provided a state-of-the-art literature review about empirical evidence
regarding the disparate phenomena of return, circular and onward
migration. It emphasized commonalities and compared differences in
findings, while connecting them to the theories, policies and
institutions. Return, repeat, and circular migrants are self-selected
and extremely heterogeneous people and cannot conform under one theory
or empirical study. Their de facto migration comportment can be
understood by several different theories and, in the absence of good
data, it can be explained by a variety of studies. The chapter ends with
a critical conclusion and hope to inspire new avenues of research on the
topic.
Keywords: Return, circular, onward, international labor migration,
public policy
JEL Classification: F22, J15, J18, J20, J61