Individual versus household migration decision rules: Gender and marital status differences in intentions to migrate in South Africa
Date
2009
Authors
Gubhaju, Bina
De Jong, Gordon
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Publisher
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Abstract
This research tests the thesis that the neoclassical microeconomic and the new household economic theoretical assumptions on migration decision-making rules are segmented by gender, marital status, and time frame of intention to migrate. Comparative tests of both theories within the same study design are relatively rare. Utilizing data from the Causes of Migration in South Africa national migration survey, we analyse how individually held "own-future" versus alternative "household well-being" migration decision rules effect the intentions to migrate of male and female adults in South Africa. Results from the gender and marital status specific logistic regressions models show consistent support for the different gender-marital status decision rule thesis. Specifically, the "maximizing one's own future" neoclassical microeconomic theory proposition is more applicable for never married men and women, the "maximizing household income" proposition for married men with short-term migration intentions, and the "reduce household risk" proposition for longer time horizon migration intentions of married men and women. Results provide new evidence on the way household strategies and individual goals jointly affect intentions to move or stay.
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Keywords
Keywords: comparative study; decision making; gender issue; international migration; microeconomics; migration determinant; numerical model; population migration; regression analysis; social status; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa
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Source
International Migration
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Journal article
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2037-12-31
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