Work

Migration aspirations in relation to border closures, employment opportunities and risk-taking attitudes: lessons from an online survey experiment

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This article investigates the effect of structural and individual factors on migration aspirations in a secondary migration context. Through an online survey experiment conducted with Syrian migrants (N = 551) living in Turkey, we unpack factors explaining aspirations to stay and move onward from the current country of residence. The findings indicate that open borders alone do not compel migrants to move onward. Instead, employment opportunities in their current residence play a crucial role in shaping aspirations to stay put. Moreover, individuals inclined to take risks are more likely to migrate, even when strict border controls are in place. By highlighting the question of what motivates migrants to stay as well as to move onward, this research emphasizes individual differences in forming migration aspirations and contributes to migration aspirations literature in the secondary migration context.

Source: Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies

DOI: 10.1080/1369183x.2024.2383713

Authors: Eda Kiriscioglu, Ayşen Üstübici, Ezgi Elçi

Institutions: Koç University, University of Amsterdam, Özyeğin University

Language: English

Topic: Migration, Refugees, and Integration

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Horizon 2020 Framework Programme