Voluntary Immobility: A Global Analysis of Staying Preferences
Debray, Alix and Ruyssen, Ilse (2022). Voluntary Immobility: A Global Analysis of Staying Preferences. UNU-CRIS Working Paper. UNU Insitute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies.
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Subtitle Working Paper Sub-type Working paper Author Debray, Alix
Ruyssen, IlseTitle Voluntary Immobility: A Global Analysis of Staying Preferences Series Title UNU-CRIS Working Paper Volume/Issue No. 2022/8 Publication Date 2022 Place of Publication Bruges Publisher UNU Insitute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies Pages 39 Language eng Abstract In the last decade, there has been growing interest from both policy and academic communities in understanding why people migrate. The focus, however, remains biased towards understanding mobility, while the structural and personal forces that restrict or resist the drivers of migration, leading to different immobility outcomes, are much less understood. This paper offers the first global analysis of staying preferences, enhancing knowledge about the factors associated with voluntary immobility, defined here as the aspiration to stay in one’s country of residence. We make use of the unique Gallup World Polls which provide information on aspirations to stay (as opposed to migrating abroad) as well as on individual characteristics and opinions for 130 countries worldwide between 2010-2016. Staying aspirations are widespread and far more common than migration aspirations, and we uncover important ‘retain factors’ often overlooked in research on migration drivers – related to social ties, local amenities, trust in community institutions, and life satisfaction. Overall, those who aspire to stay tend to be more content, socially supported and live in communities with stronger institutions, and better local amenities. We further explore differences in the relative importance of retain factors for countries at different levels of urbanization, and for different population groups, based on gender, education, rural/urban location, migration history, religiosity, and perceived thriving. Our findings contribute to a more holistic understanding of migration decision-making, illuminating the personal, social, economic, and institutional retain factors countering those that push and pull. Copyright Holder UNU Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies Copyright Year 2022 Copyright type All rights reserved -
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