Sum-up of week 2

Hi everyone! Congratulations! You have made it to the end of this week!

What have we learned in week 2? Let’s recap the theories that we have presented

First we illustrated a number of theories that explain why migration starts. Neoclassical economics, with its emphasis on the individual, and the new economics of migration, with its emphasis on the household, both see migration as the result of a choice. Dual labour market theory, which focuses on the wage and skills differentials in the job market, and world systems analysis, which focuses on the global expansion of capitalism, both explain migration as a consequence of disparities in the world.

We then considered elements that contribute to the continuation of migration flows. In particular, we looked at the important roles played by networks and institutions.

Finally, and with the contributions from experts Jean-Pierre Cassarino and Alexandra Ricard-Guay, we discussed the issues of return migration and migration cycles.

In other words, this week has therefore been rather demanding! Next week we will change tack and will instead look at three selected case studies and how these can be better understood by adopting the theoretical frameworks that we introduced here: migrant remittances and Africa; migrant domestic and care labour in Italy; and Indian migration to the Gulf region.