Revisiting aspiration and ability in international migration

Abstract

It is a refreshingly simple thought that migration is the combined result of two factors: the aspiration to migrate and the ability to migrate. Without having to resort to overly structural or individualistic explanations, this analytical distinction helps disentangle complex questions around why some people migrate but others do not. Still, aspiration and ability raise their own thorny theoretical and methodological questions. To begin with, what does it mean to have migration aspirations? How can such concepts be objects of empirical research? And is it meaningful to say that individuals possess the ability to migrate if their preference is to stay? The aspiration/ability model was originally proposed in this journal and has since been diversely applied and adapted. In this article, we look back at more than a decade of research to examine a series of theoretical and empirical developments related to the aspiration/ability model and its extensions. We identify two-step approaches as a class of analytical frameworks that share the basic logic of the aspiration/ability model. Covering expansive theoretical, methodological and empirical ground, we seek to lay a foundation for new research on global migration in its diverse forms.

How Prospective International Retired Migrants Use Tourism for Decision Making

“…Hence, our fi ndings corroborate indications in the literature suggesting that prospective migrants use tourism to prepare for their migration (e.g., Carling & Schewel, 2018;Williams & Hall, 2002). Still, participants in this study stress the diff erences of being a tourist from actually having experience in living in a diff erent location, confi rming extant literature (e.g., Lee, 1966;Williams et al, 2000;Williams et al, 1997) that calls attention to the limited ability of tourism experiences to provide information about living in a specifi c location.…”

How Prospective International Retired Migrants Use Tourism for Decision Making

“…Hence, our fi ndings corroborate indications in the literature suggesting that prospective migrants use tourism to prepare for their migration (e.g., Carling & Schewel, 2018;Williams & Hall, 2002). Still, participants in this study stress the diff erences of being a tourist from actually having experience in living in a diff erent location, confi rming extant literature (e.g., Lee, 1966;Williams et al, 2000;Williams et al, 1997) that calls attention to the limited ability of tourism experiences to provide information about living in a specifi c location.…”

Heading for a ‘Better Life’? Why Swedes Move to Portugal

“…The respondents clearly report that leaving Sweden for Portugal is not about having the money to move, but to take control over his/her own life and arrange a move. This is in line with the findings of Carling and Schewel (2018).…”

Migration expectations and geography of post-Soviet Ukraine

“…The aspects analyzed in this article (in particular, the imaginary geography) have revealed differences in migration expectations and the imaginary geography of respondents. The result is consistent with previous studies of Bilan (2012) and Carling and Schewel (2018). Bilan (2014Bilan ( , 2017 suggested the significant impact of economic, socio-demographic, socio-cultural, and structural factors on migratory mood in Ukraine.…”

How Prospective International Retired Migrants Use Tourism for Decision Making

“…Hence, our fi ndings corroborate indications in the literature suggesting that prospective migrants use tourism to prepare for their migration (e.g., Carling & Schewel, 2018;Williams & Hall, 2002). Still, participants in this study stress the diff erences of being a tourist from actually having experience in living in a diff erent location, confi rming extant literature (e.g., Lee, 1966;Williams et al, 2000;Williams et al, 1997) that calls attention to the limited ability of tourism experiences to provide information about living in a specifi c location.…”

Heading for a ‘Better Life’? Why Swedes Move to Portugal

“…The respondents clearly report that leaving Sweden for Portugal is not about having the money to move, but to take control over his/her own life and arrange a move. This is in line with the findings of Carling and Schewel (2018).…”

Migration expectations and geography of post-Soviet Ukraine

“…The aspects analyzed in this article (in particular, the imaginary geography) have revealed differences in migration expectations and the imaginary geography of respondents. The result is consistent with previous studies of Bilan (2012) and Carling and Schewel (2018). Bilan (2014Bilan ( , 2017 suggested the significant impact of economic, socio-demographic, socio-cultural, and structural factors on migratory mood in Ukraine.…”

How Prospective International Retired Migrants Use Tourism for Decision Making

“…Hence, our fi ndings corroborate indications in the literature suggesting that prospective migrants use tourism to prepare for their migration (e.g., Carling & Schewel, 2018;Williams & Hall, 2002). Still, participants in this study stress the diff erences of being a tourist from actually having experience in living in a diff erent location, confi rming extant literature (e.g., Lee, 1966;Williams et al, 2000;Williams et al, 1997) that calls attention to the limited ability of tourism experiences to provide information about living in a specifi c location.…”

Heading for a ‘Better Life’? Why Swedes Move to Portugal

“…The respondents clearly report that leaving Sweden for Portugal is not about having the money to move, but to take control over his/her own life and arrange a move. This is in line with the findings of Carling and Schewel (2018).…”

Migration expectations and geography of post-Soviet Ukraine

“…The aspects analyzed in this article (in particular, the imaginary geography) have revealed differences in migration expectations and the imaginary geography of respondents. The result is consistent with previous studies of Bilan (2012) and Carling and Schewel (2018). Bilan (2014Bilan ( , 2017 suggested the significant impact of economic, socio-demographic, socio-cultural, and structural factors on migratory mood in Ukraine.…”