Age Effects on Migration Schedule by Migration Type: Primary, Repeat, and Return Migration

Sanglim Lee, Seoul National University
E. Helen Berry, Utah State University
Michael B. Toney, Utah State University
Jang-young Lee, Kookmin University

The main purpose of this study is to examine whether or not age effects on schedules of migration are different by migration type. This study categorizes migrations into three types including primary migration, onward migration, and return migration employing the data from the 1979 Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY79). The findings present the diversity of age effects on schedules of migrations. Primary migration rates plummet from very high levels at early adult ages to similar levels with other migration types at middle ages, while rates of onward migration decrease steadily with age at low levels. With return migration, however, migration rates increase as people get older. This study explains the diversity of age effects on migration schedules using the concept of 'psychological conservatism in migration decision', that they are more likely to avoid new surroundings as they age. Such a psychological approach has been ignored by mainstream migration studies.