The Dynamics of Migration in the Presence of Chains

Abstract: The paper focuses on the structural analysis of migration flows. The assumption that migrants are a homogenous entity is replaced by a distinction between single migrants and chain migrants. The theoretical analysis is based on the solution of a differential equation describing the dynamic process of migration. The results of several simulations are depicted graphically. The results are crucially depending on the labor demand elasticity in the destination country, the intensity of thepush and the pull factors and the different levels of the subsistence minimum for single and chain migrants. The results may be useful for policy makers for predicting and steering the migration flows between countries.;