Age Patterns, Timing, and Determinants of Remigration Among Foreign-born Workers in France: Evidence From French Pension Data

Romeo Gansey , University of Pennsylvania
Matthieu Solignac, Univ. Bordeaux; INED
Irma T. Elo, University of Pennsylvania
Myriam Khlat, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Michel Guillot, University of Pennsylvania

Little is known about the patterns, selectivity, and timing of remigration among all immigrants to a single receiving country, despite important policy implications. This paper bridges these gaps by drawing on rich French pension data covering immigrants from several sending countries, whether they reside in France or abroad. The data provide a unique opportunity to examine arrival in and departure from France (a major immigrant-receiving country) by age and country of origin. We find young arrival among immigrants from developed Western countries, but those who migrate from developing countries tend to come relatively older. We also find that while remigration is experienced through immigrants’ active working life, it peaks around retirement ages. The results further indicate that a large share of immigrants out-migrates, with marked differences by country of origin. Our results highlight the importance of longitudinal data that capture migrant movements across international borders for the study of migration.

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 Presented in Session 191. Return Migration