Circular Migration: Counts of Exits and Years Away from the Host Country

26 Pages Posted: 11 Sep 2007 Last revised: 16 Apr 2023

See all articles by Amelie F. Constant

Amelie F. Constant

Princeton University; UNU-MERIT; CESifo; University of Pennsylvania

Klaus F. Zimmermann

Global Labor Organization (GLO); UNU-MERIT; Maastricht University, Department of Economics; Free University Berlin; University of Bonn; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Journal of Population Economics

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Abstract

The economic literature has largely overlooked the importance of repeat and circular migration. The paper studies this behavior by analyzing the number of exits and the total number of years away from the host country using count data models and panel data from Germany. More than 60% of migrants from the guestworker countries are indeed repeat or circular migrants. Migrants from European Union member countries, those not owning a dwelling in Germany, the younger and the older (excluding the middle ages), are significantly more likely to engage in repeat migration and to stay out for longer. Males and those migrants with German passports exit more frequently, while those with higher education exit less; there are no differences with time spent out. Migrants with family in the home country remain out longer, and those closely attached to the labor market remain less; they are not leaving the country more frequently.

Keywords: circular migration, repeat migration, guestworkers, minorities, count data

JEL Classification: F22, J15, J61, C25

Suggested Citation

Constant, Amelie F. and Zimmermann, Klaus F., Circular Migration: Counts of Exits and Years Away from the Host Country. IZA Discussion Paper No. 2999, SOEPpaper, No. 40, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1012568 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1012568

Amelie F. Constant

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Klaus F. Zimmermann (Contact Author)

Global Labor Organization (GLO) ( email )

Bonn
Germany

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UNU-MERIT ( email )

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Netherlands

Maastricht University, Department of Economics ( email )

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University of Bonn

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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Journal of Population Economics

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