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Interrogating the Relationship between Remigration and Sustainable Return

Type
Article (issue/policy brief, journal, blog, etc.)
Study
Country
Global
Organization
International Organization for Migration (IOM), The Authors International Migration
Year
2017
Publication Series
International Migration, Vol. 55, 6, 2017
Authors
K. Kuschminder

Assisted voluntary return is a central component of many countries managed migration policies. Within these programmes achieving a sustainable return is a common policy goal, which is often measured through remigration. In this paper, it is argued that remigration is not a valid indicator to measure sustainable return. A new definition and approach to defining and measuring sustainable return is presented based on a multidimensional return and reintegration index, which is tested with a sample of 118 returnees in six countries. Due to small sample size a chi‐square test is used to examine the correlation between the return and reintegration index and remigration intentions. The results demonstrate the relationship between having a concrete remigration plan and the return and reintegration index is insignificant. This relationship between remigration and sustainable return is further interrogated throughout the paper.

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