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Women’s economic rights in developing countries and the gender gap in migration to Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Neumayer Eric

    (Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, UK.)

  • Plümper Thomas

    (Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria.)

Abstract
There is a large variation across countries of origin in the gender composition of migrants coming to Germany. We argue that women’s economic rights in developing countries of origin have three effects on their migration prospects to a place like Germany that is far away and difficult to reach. First, the lower are women’s economic rights the fewer women have access to and control over the resources needed to migrate to Germany. Second, the lower are the rights the lower is women’s agency to make or otherwise influence migration decisions. These two constraining effects on the female share in migrant populations dominate the opposing third effect that stems from low levels of women’s economic rights generating a potentially powerful push factor. We find corroborating evidence in our analysis of the gender composition of migration to Germany over the period 2009–2017.

Suggested Citation

  • Neumayer Eric & Plümper Thomas, 2021. "Women’s economic rights in developing countries and the gender gap in migration to Germany," IZA Journal of Development and Migration, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:izajdm:v:12:y:2021:i:1:p:23:n:4
    DOI: 10.2478/izajodm-2021-0013
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    migration; economic rights; gender; resources; agency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • K37 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Immigration Law
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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