The Flow of Labour and Goods in Canada’s International Migration System: 1986-1996

Ann H Kim

doi:10.25336/p6vc9z

Abstract

This paper reviews the theoretical and empirical implications of multiple linkages between countries for migration flows to Canada, from 1986 to 1996. The findings reveal that for a given year, social networks and export trade were the two key factors that determined the variation of in-migration flows across source countries. The examination of change in the migration system showed that changes in migration flows were more likely to be explained by changes in the level of development in origin countries and in the size of immigrant communities in the host country than by changes in the value of economic trade.

Highlights

Research on microlevel motivations for migration has improved our understanding of the determinants and consequences of population movement at this finer scale, yet the social, political and economic context in which these movements occur cannot be minimized
The size of extant co-immigrant communities and the value of exports are the two key factors that determine the variation of in-migration flows across countries
To test the hypotheses about changes in the migration system, how changes in trade activities and foreign investments affected migration streams were examined by estimating a first-difference model

Summary

Introduction

Research on microlevel motivations for migration has improved our understanding of the determinants and consequences of population movement at this finer scale, yet the social, political and economic context in which these movements occur cannot be minimized. A full analysis of Canada’s migration system would include Canada and all other relevant countries that exchange large numbers of migrants with one another This more inclusive network of states would allow a comparison of the dynamics of migratory processes to competing destinations and determine how other types of linkages factor into these dynamics. Due to Canada' s position in the division of labour in the world economy as a core country that receives a net flow of international migrants and engages in the acquisition of foreign markets through capital investment and trade, we should expect to find that an increase in direct investment and trade over the period should be associated with an increase in international migration (Massey, Arango, Hugo, Kouaouci, Pellegrino and Taylor 1998). Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, population size and population density were control variables as countries differed significantly in terms of their economic and demographic conditions.

A Static View of Canada’s Immigration System

A Dynamic View of Canada’s Immigration System

Findings

Discussion and Conclusions