Social Studies and Research in Iran

Social Studies and Research in Iran

Staying or Re-migrating (A Study of the Factors Affecting the Instability of Return Migration among the Specialists and Professional Iranian Workforce)

Authors
Mahdi Ahouie
Shima Zare
Department of Iranian Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jisr.2024.376181.1502
Abstract
For decades, Iran has been known to be one of the countries that send immigrants, especially the specialists and professional workforce. However, the matter of their return has not been comprehensively addressed. Therefore, this research has investigated the reasons for the instability of Iranian returns by examining the intention (potential or actual) of remigration among returnees, thereby addressing the broader topic of return migration of Iranians.
33 samples were randomly selected from the educated population who returned to Iran between 1990 and 2021, which is the subject of the study. The “thematic” analysis technique is supported by the “Social Welfare Theory” by “Fitzpatrick” as the base theory, while the “in-depth interview” method is used for data collection.
The findings indicate that the instability of returns is influenced by four main categories, each of which comprises its own specific sub-categories. The most frequently occurring codes pertain to “unfavorable economic circumstances,” which are investigated under the two subcategories of “insufficient income” and “ideal retirement conditions abroad.” Three additional primary categories, “collective life challenges,” “psychological drivers,” and “tendency to commute,” were perceived as additional factors that influenced re-migration. All factors that have been mentioned are classified under the umbrella term “physiological needs.”
The results reveal that the instability of return migration in Iran is not inherently attributable to the interviewees’ dissatisfaction or frustration (either absolute or relative) with the current conditions of Iran. Nevertheless, some individuals elect to migrate again to enhance their knowledge and professions.
Keywords
Migration
Return
Expert
Iranian
Brain Circulation
Abbasi-Shavazi, M. J., Sadeghi, R., & Mohammadi, A. (2017). Staying or Remigration among Afghan Returnees and its Determinants. Journal of Population Association of Iran, 11(22), 10-41. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.1735000.1395.11.22.1.1 (In Persian)
Abdmolaei, A., Safari Shali, R., & Kazemipour, S. (2022). The Contexts of Return Migration of Faculty Members in Tehran: A Qualitative Study. Iranian Population Studies, 7(1), 219-256. https://doi.org/10.22034/jips.2021.306276.1129 (In Persian)
Aghaei, T., & Sadeghi, R. (2023). Elderly Migration and Its Correlates in Iran. Journal of Gerontology, 7(4), 36-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.22034/JOGE.7.4.5 (In Persian)
Azadi, M., Mirramezani, M., & Mesgaran, B. (2020). Migration and brain drain from Iran. Working Paper 9, and Stanford Iran 2040 Project, Stanford University.
Arami, S., & Azam Azadeh, M. (2024). Migration as a value (semantic reconstruction of migration from the perspective of those involved in international migration). Quarterly of Social Studies and Research in Iran, 13(2), 145-160. https://doi.org/10.22059/jisr.2024.368680.1461 (In Persian)
Bourdieu, P. (1990). Homo academicus. Stanford University Press.
Diba, F., Gholipour, A., & Pourezzat, A. A. (2020). A future-oriented analysis of academic reverse migration. Quarterly Journal of Strategy, 29(95), 109-133. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.10283102.1399.29.2.5.5 (In Persian)
Litwak, E., & Longino Jr, C. F. (1987). Migration patterns among the elderly: A developmental perspective. The gerontologist, 27(3), 266-272. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/27.3.266
Fitzpatrick, T. (2001). Welfare theory: An introduction. New York: Palgrave.
Hoseini Moghadam, M., & Bashiri, H. (2019). Causal layered analysis of high-skilled diaspora: Case study of Iran. Iranian Journal of Engineering Education, 21(82), 111-138. https://doi.org/10.22047/ijee.2019.169492.1619 (In Persian)
Kazemi, A. (2018). University, from Ladder to Canopy. Tehran: Institute of Social and Cultural Studies. (In Persian)
Khosravi, K., Rasti Barzaki, M., & Mahdavi, H. (2010). Technology transfer using the brain circulation model in science and technology parks. Journal of Science and Technology Parks and Incubators, 22(6), 1-10. (In Persian)
Longino, H. E. (1995). Gender, politics, and the theoretical virtues. Synthese, 104, 383-397. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064506
Lee, E. S. (1966). A Theory of Migration. Demography, 3(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.2307/2060063
Mardiha, M., & Paknia, M. (2017). Elite University, Plebs University. Tehran: Institute of Social and Cultural Studies. (In Persian)
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/h0054346
Meyer, J., & Brown, M. (1999). Scientific Diasporas: A new approach to the brain drain. UNESCO: Discussion paper.
Mohammadpour Lima, N., & Alizad Minabad, F. (2018). Urban Divergence and the Process of Residents' Exit from the Metropolitan Area (Case Study: Tehran). Geography and Urban-Regional Planning, 8(29), 75-90. https://doi.org/10.22111/gaij.2018.4324 (In Persian)
Moshfegh, M., & Nasri, A. (2018). Return Migration of Iranian Students and Its Determinants: A Study among Iranian Students Living in the United States and Canada. Population, 103-104, 91-112. (In Persian)
Rabiee, Z., & Soleimanikhoo, M. (2022). The effect of internal and external factors on the return of Iranian migrants during 2014 to 2022. Science and Technology Policy Letters, 12(4), 62-47. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.24767220.1401.12.4.3.4 (In Persian)
Safari Shali, R., & Hezarjaribi, J. (2012). Anatomy of Social Welfare. Tehran: Society and Culture. (In Persian)
Saidi, S. (2019). Return migration and reintegration challenges: lived experience of expert returnees via Iranian universities. Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education, 25(4), 97-120. (In Persian)
Salavati, B. (2020). Iran Migration Outlook. Iran Migration Observatory. Tehran: Sharif University of Technology. (In Persian)
Salavati, B. (2021). Iran Migration Outlook. Iran Migration Observatory. Tehran: Sharif University of Technology (In Persian)
Salavati, B. (2022). Iran Migration Outlook. Iran Migration Observatory. Tehran: Sharif University of Technology (In Persian)
Sanaei, A. (2019). Incentives and Disincentives to Return Migration: The Case of Iranian Experts Living in the United States. Journal of Majlis and Rahbord, 26(97), 289-324. (In Persian)
Sanderson, W. C., & Scherbov, S. (2010). Remeasuring aging. Science, 329(5997), 1287-1288. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1126/science.1193647
Saxenian, A. (2007). The new Argonauts: Regional Advantage in a Global Economy. Harvard University Press.