Return Migration and the Development of the Italian Mezzogiorno

Abstract

The authors interviewed return migrants in 3 regions--Puglia Basilicata and Calabria--of the Italian Mhezzogiorno. Prosperous provinces such as Taranta have low emigration rates and therefore low rates of return migration. When net emigration is plotted for each province most reveal a positive balance starting in about 1973 very similar to the national trend. The study investigates employment patterns before and after return migration and the use of savings and remittances. When migrants return to areas where the preconditions of development are not present to begin with development following return migration cannot occur. Moreover many migrants do not return to their native villages but to cities instead. Returnees to urban areas have far more choices for employment than returness to villages. This research project attempts to categorize returnee by type: 1) migrants who return to their native village and find employment as best they can 2) migrants who return but are unable to find jobs and 3) migrants who return to urban areas where there are more jobs. The questionnaire which is 30 pages long covers such areas as: 1) whether employment abroad influences employment at home 2) whether aspirations and jobs fit 3) how widespread the desire is to become a small business owner 4) how much prestige is attached to land ownership 5) whether migrants who leave with their families different from those who migrate alone and 6) whether there are patterns of internal migration among returnees.