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Explanations of Economic Rationality Challenged: Contemporary Return Migration to Bulgaria

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Bakalova
  • Mihaela Misheva
Abstract
The article addresses one of the most intriguing questions in current migration researches: what drives return migration? It seeks at a micro level to find out what motivates the return in terms of the individual perceptions and reflexions of migrants returning to Bulgaria. The initial hypothesis is that non-economic factors have been the leading ones that have prompted the Bulgarian citizens to return to their homeland over the last decade. The underlying assumption is that the return to Bulgaria is not a failure of individual migration, but should be regarded in terms of the concept of emotional reflexivity and can be examined within the theoretical paradigm of transnationalism. The hypothesis is tested against qualitative and quantitative data from a 2017 national survey and 100 in-depth interviews with Bulgarian returnees. The text is organized in several parts. Following the introduction, in the second part methodological aspects of the two surveys are presented. Next part presents different theoretical paradigms of return migration and distinguishes between economic and non-economic factors of return, and between rationality and emotionality of the motivation. The concept of emotional reflexivity is introduced as an explanatory frame for non-economic emotional motivation for return. In the third part is the analysis of the qualitative sociological data on the returnees’ motivation, illustrated by quotations from the in-depth interviews. A comparison is made between qualitative and quantitative data on the motivation and reasons for return. The analysis confirms the initial hypothesis. We conclude that the „return“ of Bulgarian migrants to Bulgaria cannot be comprehended without taking into account the factors related to life cycle and the relationship with home and family, as well as motives related to migrants’ emotional reflexivity. The prevailing non-economic emotional and reflective motives for return to Bulgaria carry important implications and opportunities with regard to the development of effective policies and initiatives to encourage and support return.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Bakalova & Mihaela Misheva, 2018. "Explanations of Economic Rationality Challenged: Contemporary Return Migration to Bulgaria," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 2, pages 80-101.
    • Handle: RePEc:bas:econst:y:2018:i:2:p:80-101
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stelios Gialis, 2012. "Integration a few kilometres away from the motherland: Albanians' internal migration, settlement and voluntary return in Epirus and the Ionian Islands in Greece," Migration Letters, Migration Letters, vol. 9(2), pages 141-154, May.
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    4. repec:cai:poeine:pope_1002_0333 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Kristi Anniste & Tiit Tammaru, 2014. "Ethnic differences in integration levels and return migration intentions," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 30(13), pages 377-412.
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    8. Irena Zareva, 2018. "Policies for Encouraging the Return of Bulgarian Migrants to Bulgaria," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 2, pages 65-79.
    9. Hein de Haas & Tineke Fokkema, 2011. "The effects of integration and transnational ties on international return migration intentions," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 25(24), pages 755-782.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Irena Zareva, 2019. "Participation of Returning Migrants in the Labour Market in Bulgaria," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 1, pages 95-104.
    2. Vesselin Mintchev & Venelin Boshnakov, 2021. "Return Migration and Remittances: Recent Empirical Evidence for Bulgaria," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 56-75.
    3. Maria Bakalova, 2021. "Education and Migration: The (Non)Return of Better Educated Migrants to Bulgaria," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 4, pages 166-186.
    4. Andrey Nonchev & Marieta Hristova, 2021. "Returning Migrants – Success or Failure," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 76-95.
    5. Irena Zareva, 2021. "(Re) Integration of Returning Migrants into the Economic Life in Bulgaria," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 1, pages 19-34.
    6. Mihai HACHI & Stela MOROZAN & Marina POPA, 2021. "Challenges of Return Migration to the Republic of Moldova in the Context of International Migration Flow," Eastern European Journal for Regional Studies (EEJRS), Center for Studies in European Integration (CSEI), Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM), vol. 7(2), pages 41-58, December.
    7. Andrey Nonchev, 2019. "The Remigration: Causes and Sustainability (The Bulgarian Case)," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 1, pages 72-79.
    8. Mihaela Misheva, 2021. "Return Migration and Institutional Change: The Case of Bulgaria," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 4, pages 187-202.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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