Download The macro picture: the feminization of international

The macro picture: the
feminization of international
migration?
Juan Carlos Guzmán
PRMGE
Objectives
How international migration flows have
changed over time for males and females
for some key countries
How the major factors to migrate differ for
men and women at the macro level.
Countries and data sources
Country
Source
Years, periodicity
Australia
Settlers arrivals from the 1995–2004, yearly
Department of
Immigration and
Multicultural Affairs
(DIMA)
Canada
Census Public Use
Microdata from
Statistics Canada
United States
Integrated Public User
1970-2000, decennial
Microdata from Ruggles,
Sobekc, et al 2004
Germany, Italy,
Netherlands, Norway,
Spain, Sweden, and
United Kingdom
Port of entry records
from Eurostat
1971, 1981-2001, every
5 years
1985-1999, yearly
Percentage of female migrants by
region
70
60
50
%
40
30
20
10
0
World
Developed
Countries
Africa
East Asia Europe &
Latin
North South Asia
and
Central America & Africa &
Pacific
Asia
Caribbean Middle
East
1960
2005
Source: United Nations (2006). Trends in Total Migrant Stock: The 2005 Revision.
Percentage of female migrants in
the US by region of origin
60
50
40
% 30
20
10
0
Total
Developed
countries
Africa
East Asia
and the
Pacific
1970
Eastern
Latin
Middle South Asia
Europe America East and
and
and the
North
Central Caribbean Africa
Asia
2000
%
Percentage of female migrants in
the Germany by region of origin
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Total
Developed
Countries
Africa
East Asia
and the
Pacific
1985-1989
Europe
Latin
Middle South Asia
and
America East and
Central
and the
North
Asia
Caribbean Africa
1990-1994
1995-1999
Percentage of female migrants in Denmark,
Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,
and United Kingdom by region: 1985–1999
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Total
Developed
countries
Africa
East Asia
and the
Pacific
1985-1989
Europe
Latin
Middle South Asia
and
America East and
Central
and the
North
Asia
Caribbean Africa
1990-1994
1995-1999
Percentage of female migrants in
the Australia by region of origin
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Total
Developed
countries
Africa
East Asia
and the
Pacific
1985-1989
1990-1994
Europe
Latin
Middle South Asia
and
America East and
Central
and the
North
Asia
Caribbean Africa
1995-1999
2000-2004
Summary
Given the data of the United Nations, it can be
concluded that there has not been much of a
global feminization of migration flows;
However, some regions have experienced
different trends
– In general, flows from Africa, South Asia and the
Middle East tend to be more male-dominated
– Flows from East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central
Asia, and Latin America and Caribbean tend to be
more female-dominated.
Economic Incentives and Networks
Income Differentials between countries attracts migrants.
Networks reduce the cost of migration.

– If migration depends on income differentials between origin and
destination countries, one would expect a positive relationship
between migration and income differentials.
– If migrant flows depend on the size of networks available to the
migrant in the destination country, then migration will become
higher as more people migrate.
The importance of income differentials and networks
might be different for men and women
Determinants of the propensity to
migrate to United States
Variable
Males
Females
Long-term
Proportion of male migrant stock† in t-1
0.18
0.58
Proportion of female migrant stock† in t-1
-0.07
-0.38
Log of relative GDP in t-1 x100
0.29
0.40
Log of GDP in origin country in t-1 x 100
0.24
0.32
Change in Log of relative GDP x 100
1.07
0.19
Change in Log of GDP in origin country x 100
0.99
0.02
Change in proportion of male migrant stock† in t-1
0.70
0.03
Change in proportion of female migrant stock† in t-1
-0.50
0.09
Log of distance between capitals X 100
-0.05
0.01
Short-term
†the
proportion of (male/ female) stock migrants refers to the number of migrants (males or females) divided by the total
population of the country of origin.
Note: t-1 refers to the previous census year.
Determinants of the propensity to
migrate to Australia
Variable
Males
Females
Proportion of male migrant stock† in t-1
0.84
1.28
Proportion of female migrant stock† in t-1
-1.28
-1.71
Log of relative GDP in t-1 x 100
0.08
0.06
Log of GDP in origin country in t-1 x 100
-0.13
-0.10
Change in Log of relative GDP x 100
-0.05
-0.05
Change in Log of GDP in origin country x 100
-0.20
-0.19
Change in proportion of male migrant stock† in t-1
-2.13
-2.00
Change in proportion of female migrant stock† in t-1
1.71
1.68
Long-term
Short-term
†the
proportion of (male/ female) stock migrants refers to the number of migrants (males or females) divided by the total
population of the country of origin.
Note: t-1 refers to the previous census year.
Conclusions
Given the data of the United Nations, it can be
concluded that there has not much of a global
feminization of migration flows;
However, certain countries and regions have
experienced different trends
– In general, flows from Africa, South Asia and the
Middle East tend to be more male-dominated
– Flows from East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central
Asia, and Latin America and Caribbean tend to be
more female-dominated.
Conclusions
Economic and network factors that influence the
propensity to migrate for males and females vary for
men and women
In the U.S. case, the results indicate that male flows are
driven more by economic factors than those of women.
However, the positive response of female migrants to the
stock of females in the short-term might show the
increasing importance of female networks for females
economic migration.
In the Australian case, migration is strongly driven by the
migrant population already living there. However, in the
short-term the female stock affects positively the
propensity to migrate for both men and women.
Indicating an increasing importance of female migration.