To return permanently or to return temporarily?: Explaining migrants' intentions

This paper studies migrants' intentions to return to their origin
country by making the distinction between permanent return, temporary
return and participation in temporary return programmes. Using survey
data from first generation migrants in the Netherlands, we explore how
migrants' experiences regarding both the origin and destination
countries are linked to their return intentions. We show that there are
significantly more people interested in temporary return than permanent
return. Moreover, we demonstrate that while economic integration has no
clear link with return intentions, individuals with a lower
socio-cultural integration are more likely to intend to return
permanently. We also find that social homeland engagement predicts
intentions for all types of return. Considering the potential positive
impact of (temporary) return on development through the transfer of
skills, financial resources and experiences, this research provides
insight into the profile of migrants who could be the target of
programmes and policies on return for development.