Beyond immigration: Moving from Western to Global Indexes of Migration Policy

Abstract

Over the last twenty years, researchers have undertaken systematic comparison of migration policy by creating sets of policy indicators/indexes at the national level. These indicators are designed to analyse the differences and trends in migration policy and then be used by the research community to assess the determinants and effects of policy. This article aims to assess the comprehensiveness of current migration policy indicators by analysing their thematic, geographical and temporal coverage as a way of understanding how migration policy has been conceptualised and measured in quantitative migration research. Our analysis of the 67 existing indexes shows that they disproportionally focus on immigration policy, mainly admission and citizenship, in OECD and particularly Western European countries, with limited opportunities for longitudinal analysis of policy change. These findings reveal that migration policy has been largely conceptualised in indexes as a contemporary phenomenon, concerning mainly Western countries that have become major destination countries.

Going Global: Opportunities and Challenges for the Development of a Comparative Research Agenda on Citizenship Policies at the Global Level

“…In this short paper we presented the main findings of the MIPEX 2020, with a focus on naturalisation policies. Most indices addressing naturalisation policies focus on EU and Western countries (Solano & Huddleston, 2021a), while developing countries and emigration policies have been largely neglected. This trend follows a general bias in the wider field of migration studies, as shown by recent comprehensive reviews of the field (Levy, Pisarevskaya & Scholten, 2020;Pisarevskaya, Levy, Scholten & Jansen, 2019).…”

“…In a recent review of the comparative studies of citizenship and migration policies, Giacomo Solano and Thomas Huddleston (2021) note that the outstanding majority of the existing analyses concentrate on European and Western countries. With more than one third of immigrants worldwide settling in low or middle-income countries and three quarters of the refugee population living in African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean states, this Westerncentric perspective is problematic.…”

“…Naturalisation policies have been analysed according to several existing indices. Naturalisation policies are the most frequently indexed areas of migration policy, according to a recent review of existing indices (Solano & Huddleston, 2021a). Of the 67 indices analysed by this review, 39 included indicators on naturalisation policies.…”

A Comparison of Migrant Integration Policies via Mixture of Matrix-Normals

“…Many factors contribute to the migratory flows and stocks (forced or voluntary) to destination countries, which have been extensively addressed in the literature (Dustmann & Preston, 2007 ; Pedersen et al, 2008 ; Simpson, 2017 ). We distinguish short-term migrants (seasonal agricultural workers, students, tourists, or temporary residents) and long-term migrants that include permanent residents, the first step on a path towards the creation of members, namely the citizenship (Goodman, 2019 ; Solano & Huddleston, 2021 ). Migration and migrant integration dynamics influence the number and characteristics of migrants entering a country, as well as the integration outcomes (Helbling & Leblang, 2019 ; Garcés-Mascare nas & Penninx, 2016 ; Czaika & De Haas, 2013 ; Massey et al, 1998 ) At the same time, the receiving society defines all the laws and policies that relate to the selection, admission, integration, settlement, and full membership of migrants in a country (Solano & Huddleston, 2021 ; Bjerre et al, 2015 ; Hammar, 1990 ).…”

“…We distinguish short-term migrants (seasonal agricultural workers, students, tourists, or temporary residents) and long-term migrants that include permanent residents, the first step on a path towards the creation of members, namely the citizenship (Goodman, 2019 ; Solano & Huddleston, 2021 ). Migration and migrant integration dynamics influence the number and characteristics of migrants entering a country, as well as the integration outcomes (Helbling & Leblang, 2019 ; Garcés-Mascare nas & Penninx, 2016 ; Czaika & De Haas, 2013 ; Massey et al, 1998 ) At the same time, the receiving society defines all the laws and policies that relate to the selection, admission, integration, settlement, and full membership of migrants in a country (Solano & Huddleston, 2021 ; Bjerre et al, 2015 ; Hammar, 1990 ). Citizenship, migration, and integration policy, albeit in different ways, are distinct policy domains and creates the conditions that support or hinder migrants’ inclusion in the destination society.…”