Migration Motives, Timing, and Outcomes of Internationally Mobile Couples

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter presents analyses of data from the first wave of the German Emigration and Remigration Panel Study (GERPS) to explore the role of gender differences in migration motives, patterns, and outcomes in recently emigrated or remigrated couples. The results show that emigration of couples follows a traditional gender pattern with leading men and trailing women. However, we also found important evidence that remigration patterns do not follow these traditional gender norms. The decision towards and the timing of remigration within couples is led by women independent of age, education, migration experience, migration motives, and personality traits. Turning to migration outcomes, we find evidence for at least some psychological burden for women. When women are the trailing partner with respect to emigration or remigration decisions, they report a decrease in overall life satisfaction as well as an increase in perceived social isolation after migration. However, under some circumstances men also suffer psychologically. Specifically, men who have remigrated in advance of their female partners report lower life satisfaction and higher perceived isolation.