The demographic and socio-economic implications of national and transnational migration

Research co-ordinated by Jackie Wahba (University of Southampton)

Migration is a crucial element of population change. With low fertility rates in most European countries, migration has become a major influence on net national population growth and local population age structures. Migration issues also intersect those of ageing and fertility. For example, the elderly and their families may move closer together to facilitate caring or migration might impact on the decision whether to have a/another child or not.

Using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches, work in this theme examines migration and mobility patterns and processes in a range of spatial contexts.

Work is being undertaken in the following areas:

• Migration, mobility and the labour market
• Migration, mobility and its impact on socio-demographic processes
• Migration and it's impact on family and household formation
• Migration and ageing
• Migrant voluntary returns

Related activities:

Understanding Migrants Choices - This project, funded by NORFACE, is co-ordinated by CPC Migration Strand Leader Dr Jackie Wahba. The project aims to contribute to a better understanding of the choices and constraints faced by migrants.

Pathfinder Research Project; Inequalities in access to health care in Brazil and India: Closing the gap for the poorest poor - This project is funded by the ESRC within the Pathfinder Research Projects investigates the extent of inequalities in access to health care, how these change over time and the associated determinants, with an emphasis on the poorest-poor segment of the population living in Brazil and India. The project is coordinated by Dr. Sabu Padmadas with colleagues from Southampton University, in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth, LSE Health, CEDEPLAR of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil), Institute for Social and Economic Change (India), Centre for Development Studies (India) and the International Institute for Population Sciences (India).

Pathfinder Research Project; Coping with the Urban Environment? Gender Disadvantage, Social Inequalities and Well-being of Economic Migrants in China - Funded under the ESRC Pathfinders call, the aim of this project is to undertake a quantitative investigation of the extent of social inequalities determining the quality of life of economic migrants in China, emphasising the female disadvantage in migration and living conditions in urban environment. The project is coordinated by Dr. Sabu Padmadas with colleagues from Southampton University, in collaboration with the China Population and Development Research Centre, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Nanjing University

Pathfinder Research Project; Assessing the impact of internal labour migration on intergenerational support, health and income: the cases of China and South Africa - This project is also funded by the  ESRC under the Pathfinders call. The project undertakes an assessment of the availability and comparability of data sources in China and South Africa concerning the impact of migration on the health and wellbeing of children and older people who are left behind in rural sending areas and contributes to strengthening research capacity for early career researchers building on existing networks through the exchange of substantive and methodological knowledge. The project is coordinated by CPC Director Professor Jane Falkingham with colleagues from Southampton, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the University of Witwatersrand (South Africa).