Key Concepts, Terms, and Findings from Literature
Week 1:
Hooghe et al. (2008) – Migration to European Countries
Pull factors (factors attracting migrants) are more significant than push factors (factors
driving migrants out of their home country).
Three explanations for migration patterns:
1. Economic theory: The labor market plays a major role.
2. World systems theory: Former colonial ties influence migration flows.
3. Network approach: Migrants move to countries where they already have
connections.
Key finding: Low unemployment in a country is a better predictor of migration than
economic growth rates or social benefits.
Neumayer (2005) – Determinants of Asylum Migration
Asylum migration is influenced by political factors such as human rights violations,
conflicts, and state failure.
Economic factors play a role, but asylum seekers are not solely driven by economic
motives.
Migration networks are crucial: previous asylum migration predicts future flows.
Asylum policy in Europe is often politically driven and focuses more on restriction than
on addressing the root causes of migration.
Key Terms:
Push and pull factors: Political oppression, violence, and economic conditions influence
asylum migration.
Migration networks: Previous asylum migration affects future migration flows.
Asylum policy: Western European countries determine asylum procedures largely based
on national interests.
, Week 2:
Migration Policy and Effectiveness (Czaika & De Haas, 2013)
Key Terms:
Migration policy: Government measures to influence migration flows.
Effectiveness vs. Effect: Effectiveness measures how well policy goals are achieved,
while effect refers to actual migration outcomes.
Policy gaps:
o Discursive gap: Difference between political rhetoric and actual policy texts.
o Implementation gap: Difference between policies on paper and their execution.
o Effectiveness gap: The extent to which policies influence migration in practice.
Substitution effects: Migration restrictions can lead to alternative migration routes:
o Spatial substitution: Migrants choose alternative destination countries.
o Categorical substitution: Different migration channels are used (e.g., illegal
routes).
o Temporal substitution: Migrants adjust the timing of their migration.
o Reverse flow substitution: Migration restrictions also reduce return migration.
Findings:
Migration is primarily shaped by structural factors such as the economy and labor market,
not just policy.
The effectiveness of migration policy is difficult to measure because it often works
indirectly and is hard to isolate from other factors.
Policy gaps: There is often a mismatch between political rhetoric, policy on paper, and
actual implementation.
Substitution effects: Restrictions on one migration channel often lead to shifts to other
routes.
Week 1:
Hooghe et al. (2008) – Migration to European Countries
Pull factors (factors attracting migrants) are more significant than push factors (factors
driving migrants out of their home country).
Three explanations for migration patterns:
1. Economic theory: The labor market plays a major role.
2. World systems theory: Former colonial ties influence migration flows.
3. Network approach: Migrants move to countries where they already have
connections.
Key finding: Low unemployment in a country is a better predictor of migration than
economic growth rates or social benefits.
Neumayer (2005) – Determinants of Asylum Migration
Asylum migration is influenced by political factors such as human rights violations,
conflicts, and state failure.
Economic factors play a role, but asylum seekers are not solely driven by economic
motives.
Migration networks are crucial: previous asylum migration predicts future flows.
Asylum policy in Europe is often politically driven and focuses more on restriction than
on addressing the root causes of migration.
Key Terms:
Push and pull factors: Political oppression, violence, and economic conditions influence
asylum migration.
Migration networks: Previous asylum migration affects future migration flows.
Asylum policy: Western European countries determine asylum procedures largely based
on national interests.
, Week 2:
Migration Policy and Effectiveness (Czaika & De Haas, 2013)
Key Terms:
Migration policy: Government measures to influence migration flows.
Effectiveness vs. Effect: Effectiveness measures how well policy goals are achieved,
while effect refers to actual migration outcomes.
Policy gaps:
o Discursive gap: Difference between political rhetoric and actual policy texts.
o Implementation gap: Difference between policies on paper and their execution.
o Effectiveness gap: The extent to which policies influence migration in practice.
Substitution effects: Migration restrictions can lead to alternative migration routes:
o Spatial substitution: Migrants choose alternative destination countries.
o Categorical substitution: Different migration channels are used (e.g., illegal
routes).
o Temporal substitution: Migrants adjust the timing of their migration.
o Reverse flow substitution: Migration restrictions also reduce return migration.
Findings:
Migration is primarily shaped by structural factors such as the economy and labor market,
not just policy.
The effectiveness of migration policy is difficult to measure because it often works
indirectly and is hard to isolate from other factors.
Policy gaps: There is often a mismatch between political rhetoric, policy on paper, and
actual implementation.
Substitution effects: Restrictions on one migration channel often lead to shifts to other
routes.
