Experiences in host countries and return plans - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Experiences in host countries and return plans: The Case of Highly-skilled Indians in EuropeMetka Hercog, EPFL, Cooperation and Development Centermetka.hercog@epfl.ch6 December, 2012

2. MotivationChanges towards skills-selective immigration policies in many developed countriesEurope has emerged as a new player in the “global competition for talent”, competing with traditional countries of immigration for the brightest migrants (Papademetriou, 2003) Empirical evidence that institutional settings matter whether a country is able to attract skilled foreigners (Docquier, Lohest, & Marfouk, 2006; Gross, 2006; Mayda, 2005)Decision-making on return different from emigration decisions: migrants better informed about host and home countries (Grundel & Peters, 2008)

3. Research questionWhat determines plans to return to the home country?To what extent does the host country environment affect the choice of migrants to stay abroad or return to their home country?

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5. Research focus: new European destination countries

6. Figure 1: Immigration flow of Indian population in selected countries (2000-2011), Source: OECD.stat New destination countries for Indian immigrants

7. Opposing hypothesesReturn as an indication of integration failureLack of economic and sociocultural integration in destination countries will have a positive effect on plans to return.Return as a measure of successMigrants expected to return after sufficient human and financial capital has been accumulated abroad.

8. Research designOn-line survey “Skilled Indians abroad and development” (from June 2011 and April 2012)Population of interest: Indian professionals and students currently residing in four destination countries: Germany, France, The Netherlands, SwitzerlandSpecialized in: ICT, Finance and Management, Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, AcademiaPeople who came directly from IndiaExcluding people who work at international organizationsPurposive sampling: circulation of the survey among Indian student and alumni associations, Indian migrant organisations, professional and social networks sites, researchers of the research institutes and among friends and colleagues of the individuals contacted

9. Survey response841 respondents

10. Personal characteristicsValuesDescriptives (in %)AgeN=602 Average age in years (st. dev)  Less than 3030 to 3940 and older28.76 (7.52) 69.6024.256.15GenderN=599femalemale22.2077.80CommunityN=634Non-Hindu communities HindusNot given20.6678.550.79ActivityN=747In education and trainingProfessionalother60.6433.475.89RelationshipN=618singlerelationship (boyfriend/girlfriend)marrieddivorcedwidowed50.9716.6731.230.810.32ChildrenN=638no childrenchildren84.6415.36

11. Plans for the next 5 yearsReturn to the home countryStay in the host countryMove to a third countryNot sure yet

12. Future plans: Reported plans for the following 5 years

13.  What do you plan to do in the following five years? No return to IndiaReturn to India TotalTotal478 72.75% 179 27.25% 657 100%Gender FemaleMale24%76%17.9%82.1%22.2%77.8%Age   average in years28.728.828.8Less than 30 69.9% 68.8% 69.6%30 and older30.1% 31.2% 30.4%Community   Hindu77.9%82.4%79.1%Non-Hindu22.1%17.6%20.9%Main activity   In training and education59.6%63.1%60.6%Professionals34.3%33.5%34.1%Other6.1%3.4%5.3%Relationship   In a relationship/married48%48%48%Single50.9%50.9%50.9%Other(divorced/widow)1.1%1.1%1.1%Children   No children84.8%84.2%84.6%Children15.2%15.8%15.4%

14. Host country** No return  Return TotalFrance43.5%37.4%41.9%Germany15.5%26.8%18.6%Switzerland28.9%26.3%28.2%The Netherlands12.1%9.5%11.4%Lengths of stay abroad***   Average number of months5124.648.2Up to 1 year14.9%22%16.8%Up to 2 years30.9%37%32.6%2 to 5 years35.9%33.5%35.2%More than 5 years18.4%7.5%15.4%Previous migration   No56.5%58%56.9%Yes43.5%42%43.1%Resident status***   Citizen6.5%1.1%5%long-term3.8%1.7%3.2%short-term86.8%97.2%89.6%Other 2.9%0%2.1%Language knowledge***   Not at all8.2%14%9.8%A little bit49.3%59.2%52%Reasonably well28.9%21.2%26.8%Very well13.6%5.6%11.4%

15. Satisfaction with living conditions (1-very bad to 5-very good)

16. Satisfaction in destination countries and return plans (1-very bad to 5-very good)

17. Positive effect on return plans for:No effect on return plans for Personal characteristics Male migrantsBelonging to a Hindu communityBeing employed (vs. studying)AgeRelationship statusHaving childrenHost country factorsIndians residing in GermanyShort duration of stay abroadShort-term residence permitSpeak little or no host country languagePrevious migration experienceExperiences in host countrySatisfied with the income level Satisfied with the immigration policy situation Dissatisfied with possibilities to communicate with local peopleDependent variable: plan to return to India in the following 5 years

18. FindingsReturn as an indication of economic success:Positive effect of education and income satisfaction on return intentions. Return as an indication of failure in socioeconomic integration: Lack of sociocultural integration and dissatisfaction with communication possibilities in the host country have a strong positive effect on return plans.

19. Lessons for European destination countries Staying in European countries seen as much more temporary compared to staying in traditional immigration countriesEconomic opportunities alone cannot foster the retention of skilled migrantsImportance of creating an attractive environment for professionals and their families More attention should be paid to language issue

20. Thank you for your attention