“Influence of socio-economic factors on the international migration flow in rich-poor countries” Doctoral Thesis

Author, institution: Antonio Luis Mihi Ramirez, Kaunas University of Technology

Science area, field: Social Sciences, Economics (04S)

The Doctoral Dissertation is available at the libraries of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio St. 20, Kaunas), Klaipeda University (K. Donelaičio a. 3, 92144 Klaipeda), Lithuanian Energy Institute (Breslaujos g. 3, 44403 Kaunas).

Scientific Supervisor – Prof. Dr. Vilmantė KUMPIKAITĖ-VALIŪNIENĖ (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Economics – 04S).

Dissertation Defence Board of Economics Science Field:

Prof. Dr. Daiva DUMČIUVIENĖ (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Economics – 04S) – chairwoman;
Assist. prof. Dr. Jan BRZOZOWSKI (Cracow University of Economics, Poland, Social Sciences, Economics – 04S);
Prof. Dr. Habil. Valentinas KLEVAS (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Social Sciences, Economics – 04S);
Prof. Dr. Violeta PUKELIENĖ (Vytautas Magnus University, Social Sciences, Economics – 04S);
Prof. Dr. Vytautas SNIEŠKA (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Economics – 04S).

Annotation:

When theories show different determinants of migration, and countries could have different reaction to changes in socio-economic conditions, this dissertation explores the influence of the relevant socio-economic factors on the contemporary international migration flow in a context of rich and poor countries.
In the last 15 years of the new century migration processes have even intensified. In addition, the number of different sources of migration flows has grown substantially in recent decades. In that context, the traditional labour market reasons justifying migration have lost on its relevance. As a result, it has grown increasingly difficult to explain contemporary international migration flows in neo-classical terms, spotting earning differentials as the only cause justifying the migration processes. Therefore, in this dissertation different theoretical perspectives were used to obtain the most relevant socio-economic determinants of migration.
In comparison to the existing literature, which mainly uses cross-sectional data or data on single countries, the empirical study uses a full panel specification with multiple destinations and several years. This actually allows much more carefully control for destination countries’ specific factors, identifying the effects of different determinants (such as earnings, unemployment, inequality of income among others).
Also, it provides evidence indicating that there are some structural similarities and discrepancies between certain groups of countries when countries are categorized according to wealth criteria. These similarities (or discrepancies) make them responding similarly to certain economic conditions and changes.