Summary of broader project
The objective of this study is to examine the role of knowledge on social policies in different countries in the decision-making process regarding subsequent migration among migrants from the Horn of Africa in Sweden. This migrant group is known for having strong networks, living in highly segregated areas, having high unemployment levels, high fertility and high levels of mobility. We will examine to what extent these migrants value family related policies in their residential choice behaviour. The study will largely be of a qualitative nature, examining migrants' knowledge on social policies in Sweden and other countries, in which the role of transnational networks combined with participants' family and economic situation in Sweden will be focal points of discussion. A smaller quantitative part of the study will focus on the family and labour market situation of cohorts of migrants in relation to emigration propensities.

Presentations

Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, April 8-12, 2014, Tampa, Florida; Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, May 1-3, 2014, Boston.

Summary of paper

Studies on the mobility patterns of African refugees who fled to Europe have shown that especially Somalis tend to move onward from continental Europe to the UK. African migrants have long been moving to Sweden, known for its liberal migration and naturalization policies. However, these migrants are among the least integrated in Sweden, both socially and economically. This paper aims to increase our knowledge on onward migration, both in terms of migration attitudes and actual migration motives. We compare onward migration attitudes among African Swedes in Sweden with reported migration motives of those who migrated onward to Australia, and patterns of onward migration from Sweden. Results show that very few migrants have definite plans to move, but most are unhappy with their socioeconomic situation and feel discriminated, though being grateful for all Sweden offered them. Quantitative analyses show a massive recent increase in onward migration, especially among Somalis. Onward migrants are more often male, single and live under very poor economic circumstances in Sweden despite reasonable educational levels, before they move onwards, mostly to the UK.  Onward migrations to Australia report to have moved in order to improve their livelihood prospects; furthermore they feel more accepted and fare much better in Australia.

Funding

Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) via the Linnaeus Center for Social Policy and Family Dynamics in Europe (SPaDE), grant registration number 349-2007-8701; Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography.