Circular Movements and Time Away from the Host Country

21 Pages Posted: 12 Jan 2004

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

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: December 2003

Abstract

The economic literature has largely overlooked the importance of repeat migration. This paper studies repeat or circular migration as it is manifested by the frequency of exits of migrants living in Germany, and by the number of years being away from the host country using count data models. More than 60% of the guestworker generation currently living in Germany, the largest European immigration country, are indeed repeat migrants. The findings indicate that immigrants from European countries, the less educated, those with weak labor market attachments, the younger and the older people (excluding the middle ages), and the newcomers and the more seasoned are significantly more likely to engage in circular migration and to stay out of Germany for longer. Males exit more requently than females but do not differ in the time spent out. Those migrants with family in the home country remain out longer but are not more frequently out.

Keywords: repeat migration, circular migration, guestworkers, minorities

JEL Classification: F22, J15, J61

Suggested Citation

Constant, Amelie F. and Zimmermann, Klaus F., Circular Movements and Time Away from the Host Country (December 2003). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=486042 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.486042

Amelie F. Constant

Princeton University ( email )

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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

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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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