Individual versus Household Migration Decision Rules: Gender and Marital Status Differences in Intentions to Migrate in South Africa

Abstract

This research tests the thesis that the neoclassical microeconomic and the new household economic theoretical assumptions on migration decisionmaking rules are segmented by gender, marital status, and time frame of intention to migrate. Comparative tests of both theories within the same study design are relatively rare. Utilizing data from the Causes of Migration in South Africa national migration survey, we analyse how individually held ''own-future'' versus alternative ''household well-being'' migration decision rules effect the intentions to migrate of male and female adults in South Africa. Results from the gender and marital status specific logistic regressions models show consistent support for the different gender-marital status decision rule thesis. Specifically, the ''maximizing one's own future'' neoclassical microeconomic theory proposition is more applicable for never married men and women, the ''maximizing household income'' proposition for married men with short-term migration intentions, and the ''reduce household risk'' proposition for longer time horizon migration intentions of married men and women. Results provide new evidence on the way household strategies and individual goals jointly affect intentions to move or stay.

Household Differentials and the Individual Decision to Migrate to South Africa. The Case of Gweru City in Zimbabwe

“…This suggests a shift from migration historically being dominated by unmarried men, when the girls' place was at home. It also agrees with the findings by Gubhaju and De Jong (2005) that households in Thailand trust never married females in remittance sending and they encourage them to migrate more than males. Therefore, it seems as if females are no longer confined to the domestic arena and they are active participants in seeking incomes for Zimbabwean households.…”

The effect of environmental change on human migration

“…Key personal characteristics which influence decisions to move include age, sex, educational level, wealth, marital status, attachment to place, and attitudes and preferences (such as degree of risk aversion). Decisions are frequently made in a family context, so the characteristics of the family unit, and power relationships within it, are also important; the relative effects of personal and household characteristics vary between members of a community (Gubhaju and de Jong, 2009). Barriers or obstacles to movement include the cost of moving, access to the means of moving, and the presence of legal or administrative barriers and constraints.…”

International Migration Decision-Making and Destination Selection Among Skilled Migrants

“…The problem is that household theories of migration consider a household to be composed of actors with equal power and agreed aims, though this is quite often not the case, especially in cultures where women have less power than men in the family decisionmaking (de Haas & Fokkema, 2010;Gubhaju & De Jong, 2009;Hoang, 2011;Stecklov, Carletto, Azzarri, & Davis, 2010).…”

“…In addition, research has also shown that partners can have differing goals in the migration process (Gubhaju & De Jong, 2009;Pedraza, 1991) and that consensus building is often done through discussion (Adams, 2004;De Jong, Warland, & Root, 1998). Not only are couples involved in the decision, but also others, such as extended family, children and friends, can have influence in the decision-making process (Adams, 2004).…”

“…Overall, decision-making about migration appears to be influenced by these kinds of social networks, as contacts abroad can provide support to the pre-departure migrant (Adelman, 1988;Gubhaju & De Jong, 2009;Haug, 2008;Ryan, 2008;van Dalen & Henkens, 2007). In a study of North Americans moving to Israel, personal contacts in the destination were a major source of informational social support during the decision-making process (Amit & Riss, 2007).…”