Joaquín Arango

Theories of International Migration: A Review and Appraisal

The configuration of developed countries has become today diverse and multiethnic due to international migration. A single coherent theoretical explanation for international migration is lacking. The aim of this discussion was the generation and integration of current theories that clarify basic assumptions and hypotheses of the various models. Theories were differentiated as explaining the initiation of migration and the perpetuation of international movement. Initiation theories discussed were 1) macro theories of neoclassical economics; 2) micro theories of neoclassical economics; 3) the new economics with examples for crop insurance markets futures markets unemployment insurance and capital markets; 4) dual labor market theory and structural inflation motivational problems economic dualism and the demography of labor supply; and 5) world systems theory and the impacts of land raw materials labor material links ideological links and global cities. Perpetuation theories were indicated as network theories of declining risks and costs; institutional theory cumulative causation through distribution of income and land organization of agrarian production culture of migration regional distribution of human capital and social labeling factors; and migration systems theory. The assumptions and propositions of these theories although divergent were not inherently contradictory but had very different implications for policy formulation. The policy decisions over the next decades will be very important and carry with them the potential for misunderstanding and conflict. Policy options based on the explicated models range from regulation by changing wages and employment conditions in destination countries or promoting development in countries of origin to changing structural market economic relations.

An Evaluation of International Migration Theory: The North American Case

The article reviews empirical studies of international migration within the North American migratory system in order to evaluate the various theories that seek to explain the initiation and perpetuation of international movement. The review uncovers significant support for all theories suggesting that they constitute complementary rather than competing explanations of migration. One criticism is that far too much research is focused on Mexico whose unique relationship to the United States may make it unrepresentative of broader patterns and trends in migration. After discussing salient gaps in the research record and outlining promising directions for future study the article attempts to construct a comprehensive model for understanding immigration into North America. (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA) (EXCERPT)

International migration and community development

Taylor, J. Edward ; Arango, Joaquin ; Hugo, Graeme ; Kouaouci, Ali ; Massey, Douglas S. ; Pellegrino, Adela

Explaining Migration: A Critical View

The article surveys the major contemporary explanations of migration, starting with the neo-classical theory, and then the array of theories and conceptual frameworks that have flourished in the last quarter of the century. The survey highlights the fact that in its relatively short history, theorising about migration has taken the form of a string of separate, generally unconnected theories, models, conceptual frameworks and empirical generalisations, rather than a cumulative sequence of contributions. As awhole, existing theories of migration can be faulted for focusing almost exclusively on the explanation of the causes of migration, to the detriment of other dimensions; for making ‘grand claims’ out of proportion with effective explanatory power; and for providing explanations ex-post rather than guiding empirical research and providing testable hypotheses. In addition to the difficulties that all the social sciences experience when trying to explainhuman behaviour, migration theories face special ones: its subject matter is hard to define, difficult to measure, extremely multifaceted and multiform, and thus resistant to theory-building. Whilst the reservoir of theories, and especially of conceptual frameworks, available nowadays represents a clear improvement over the situation a few decades ago, their contribution toour knowledge of migration is still limited.

Worlds in Motion: Understanding International Migration at the End of the Millennium

At the end of the 20th century nearly all developed nations have become countries of immigration, absorbing growing numbers of immigrants not only from developed regions, but increasingly from developing nations of the Third World. Although international migration has come to play a central role in the social, economic, and demographic dynamics of both immigrant-sending and immigrant-receiving countries, social scientists have been slow to construct a comprehensive theory to explain it. Efforts at theoretical explanation have been fragmented by disciplinary, geographic, and methodological boundaries. Worlds in Motion seeks to overcome these schisms to create a comprehensive theory of international migration for the next century. After explicating the various propositions and hypotheses of current theories, and identifying area of complementarity and conflict, the authors review empirical research emanating from each of the worlds principal international migration systems: North America, Western Europe, the Gulf, Asia and the Pacific, and the Southern Cone of South America. Using data from the 1980s, levels and patterns of migration within each system are described to define their structure and organization. Specific studies are then comprehensively surveyed to evaluate the fundamental propositions of neoclassical economics, the new economics of labour migration, segmented labour market theory, world systems theory, social capital theory, and the theory of cumulative causation. The various theories are also tested by applying them to the relationship between international migration and economic development. Although certain theories seem to function more effectively in certain systems, all contain elements of truth supported by empirical research. The task of the theorist is thus to identify which theories are most effective in accounting for international migration in the world today, and what regional and national circumstances lead to a predominance of one theoretical mechanism over another. The book concludes by offering an empirically-grounded theoretical synthesis to serve as a guide for researchers and policy-makers in the 21st century. Contributors to this volume - Douglas Massey, Princeton University Joaquin Arango, Complutense University of Madrid Graeme Hugo, University of Adelaide Ali Kouaouci, University of Montreal Adela Pellegrino, University of the Republic, Uruguay Edward J. Taylor, University of California, Davis

Spanish Legacies: social science at its best

ABSTRACT Spanish Legacies first stands out for the successful replication of the highly influential, seminal Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study investigation in a context quite different from the original American one, proving the exportability of its theoretical and analytical design and of its methodology. Additionally, it makes an invaluable contribution to the knowledge of the process of immigrant integration and its determinants in Spain, the country chosen for the replication. And it offers a rich and most interesting comparison about the integration of the second generation in two very different countries, the US and Spain, enriched by the fact that is based on a common research design. The book constitutes a lesson in quantitative sociology, and a lesson on the determinants of immigrant integration. The end result is social science at its best.

A través del Mediterráneo: Tragedia de los refugiados y crisis de la UE

La llamada «crisis de los refugiados» es la mayor tragedia humanitaria vivida en Europa tras la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Pero su gravedad y significacion no se limitan al ambito del sufrimiento humano; entrana, ademas, una profunda crisis de la UE que quizas sea la mas grave padecida desde su fundacion. Es una crisis multidimensional que implica un colapso del sistema europeo de asilo y refugio, una falla sistemica de la solidaridad entre los estados miembros y hacia los migrantes forzosos, y reiteradas vulneraciones de la legislacion comunitaria e internacional. Asimismo, erosiona la autoridad de las instituciones comunitarias, amenaza la libre circulacion en el espacio Schengen, agudiza las fracturas territoriales de la UE y ofrece abundante combustible al ascenso de la xenofobia y el euroescepticismo. Este articulo revisa los hechos y las principales vertientes e implicaciones de esta crisis.