Choosing Unauthorized Migration: Evidence from Return Migrants

We assess who among migrants is likely to choose unauthorized migration. While the literature has addressed reasons for unauthorized migration, we are the first to model individual choice of actual unauthorized migration. By using data from Albanian return migrants, we can ascertain that we capture actual migration – behaviour – rather than intentions to migrate, and respondents have no incentives to hide unauthorized migration as there are no consequences at this stage.

At the individual level, unauthorized migration in a context of circular migration is linked to being young and male – interpreted as risk‐taking individuals – and being free of social responsibilities like having a partner or children. Social responsibilities appear to moderate the impact of risk‐taking on choosing unauthorized migration.

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