Are migrants more satisfied with their lives than stayers? Evidence from a multi-site and intergenerational study

Bibliographic Data

ID13050002
AuthorsEroglu (0000-0001-9065-1015, University of Bristol, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume40
Issue2
Pages131-150
Publication date2024-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of International and Comparative Social Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2169-9763 • E-ISSN: 2169-978X
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/ics.2025.8
OpenAlexW4407980854
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited51

This article investigates the life satisfaction consequences of migration through unique comparisons of “settler” migrants spanning three family generations and multiple European destinations with their “stayer” and “returnee” counterparts based in the origin country of Turkey. The data are drawn from 5,980 personal interviews conducted as part of the pioneering 2000 Families Survey. The results show that despite being monetarily the most impoverished across all destinations and generations studied, the settlers tend to be more satisfied with their lives than the “stayers” and the “returnees.” However, a downward trend is observed among younger generations, irrespective of their migration status and country context. The results confirm the significance of poverty and asset status for migrants’ and their descendants’ appraisal of life, as well as highlighting the independent effect of the context. Strikingly, however, those residing in countries with more generous welfare states proved not necessarily to be more satisfied

Asset (computer security · Context (archaeology · Demographic economics · Destinations · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Immigration · Political science · Poverty · Sociology · Tourism · Welfare · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies

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