Old but gold: The use of multiregional life tables and the place-of-birth-dependent approach for studying recent internal migration in Italy
There has been a significant shift in migratory behavior within Italy over time. The origins and destinations of the migration flows, which were previously characterized by a clear prevalence of moving from the south to the center-north, are now much more heterogeneous and complex. Despite the important progress achieved in the past 20 years, the measurement of internal migration remains a contentious topic in international research. Using data provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics, we applied Rogers’ multiregional model place-of-birth-dependent approach to assess the internal migration flows that occurred in Italy in the period 2002 – 2013. This approach provides accurate measurements of internal migration, noting in particular the years of life expectancy for each birth cohort living in each geographical Italian macroregion (northeast, northwest, center, and south). The results indicate that the northwest is the main area of destination for internal migration. The birth cohort in the south is the one that has the greatest number of years of life expectancy in other macroregions. Interestingly, this cohort is the only one characterized by a predominantly male migratory model.
Abel, G., & Muttarak, R. (2017). Who is Moving? Exploring Internal Migration by Gender and Education Across 58 Countries. In: Paper Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Chicago. Available from: https://paa.confex.com/paa/2017/mediafile/ ExtendedAbstract/Paper13850/paa_abstract.pdf [Last accessed on 2024 Apr 17].
Abel, G.J. (2013). Estimating global migration flow tables using place of birth data. Demographic Research, 28:505-546. https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2013.28.18
Akerlof, G.A., & Kranton R.E. (2000). Economics and identity. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 115(3):715-753. https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.383
Arriaga, E.E. (1984). Measuring and explaining the change in life expectancies. Demography, 21(1):83-96. https://doi.org/10.2307/2061029
Basile, R., Girardi, A., & Mantuano, M. (2012). Migration and regional unemployment in Italy. The Open Urban Studies Journal, 5(1):1-13. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874942901205010001
Basile, R., Girardi, A., Mantuano, M., & Russo, G. (2019). Interregional migration of human capital and unemployment dynamics: Evidence from Italian provinces. German Economic Review, 20(4):e385-e414. https://doi.org/10.1111/geer.12172
Bell, M., Charles‐Edwards, E., Ueffing, P., Stillwell, J., Kupiszewski, M., & Kupiszewska, D. (2015). Internal migration and development: Comparing migration intensities around the world. Population and Development Review, 41(1):33-58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2015.00025.x
Benassi, F., Bonifazi, C., Heins, F., Licari, F., & Tucci, E. (2019a). Population change and international and internal migration in Italy, 2002-2017: Ravenstein Revisited. Comparative Population Studies, 44:497-531. https://doi.org/10.12765/CPoS-2020-16
Benassi, F., Heins, F., & Tucci, E. (2019b). Residential migrations in Italian metropolitan local labour market areas: Spatial patterns and age-structure effects. In: Canepari, E., & Crisci, M. (eds.) Moving around in Town: Practices, Pathways and Contexts of Intra-Urban Mobility from 1600 to the Present Day. Naples: Viella Historical Research, 15, p.165-180.
Bernard, A., & Vidal, S. (2023). Linking internal and international migration over the life course: A sequence analysis of individual migration trajectories in Europe. Population Studies, 77(3):515-537. https://doi.org/10.1080/00324728.2023.2231913
Bertino, S., Casacchia, O., Crisci, M., D’Orio, G., Rosati, R., & Sonnino, E. (eds). (2015). Popolazione e previsioni demografiche nei municipi di Roma Capitale: Dinamiche attuali e Prospettive fino al 2024 [Population and Demographic Forecasts in the Municipalities of Roma Capitale: Current Dynamics and Prospects to 2024]. Rome: Gangemi Editore spa.
Biagi, B., Faggian, A., & McCann, P. (2011). Long and short distance migration in Italy: the role of economic, social and environmental characteristics. Spatial Economic Analysis, 6(1):111-131. https://doi.org/10.1080/17421772.2010.540035
Bonifazi, C. (2015). Le migrazioni italiane [Italian Migration]. Nuova Informazione Bibliografica, Il sapere nei libri, 2/2015:333-360. https://doi.org/10.1448/80332
Bonifazi, C. (ed.). (1999). Mezzogiorno e Migrazioni Interne. United States: Istituto di Ricerche Sulla Popolazione [Mezzogiorno and Internal Migration, Population Research Institute]. Monografie, 10/1999.
Bonifazi, C., & Heins, F. (2000). Long-term trends of internal migration in Italy. International Journal of Population Geography, 6(2):111-131. https://doi.org/10.12765/CPoS-2020-16
Bonifazi, C., & Heins, F. (2017). Internal Migration Patterns in Italy: Continuity and Change Before and during the Great Recession. In: Presented at LIV Scientific Conference of SIEDS, Catania (Sicily).
Bonifazi, C., Heins, F., & Tucci, E. (2012). Le migrazioni interne degli stranieri al Tempo dell’immigrazione [Internal migrations of foreigners at the time of immigration]. Rivista di Storia e di Scienze Sociali, 75:173-190.
Bonifazi, C., Heins, F., & Tucci, E. (2014). Le migrazioni interne in Italia nel 2011-12 [Internal migration in Italy in 2011-12]. In: Colucci, M., & Gallo, S. (eds.). L’arte di Spostarsi. Rapporto 2014 Sulle Migrazioni Interne in Italia. Roma: Donzelli, p.3-20.
Bonifazi, C., Heins, F., Licari, F., & Tucci, E. (2021). The regional dynamics of internal migration intensities in Italy. Population, Space and Place, 27(7):e2331. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2331
Bottai, M., & Benassi, F. (2016). Migrations, daily mobility, local identity, housing projects in Italy: A biographical approach. Portuguese Journal of Social Science, 15(1):47-68. https://doi.org/10.1386/pjss.15.1.47_1
Bubbico, D., Morlicchio, E., & Rebeggiani, E. (2011). Introduzione. Migranti, trasfertisti e pendolari. Le trasformazioni del mercato del lavoro Italiano [Introduction. Migrants, relocators and commuters. Transformations in the Italian labor market]. Sociologia del Lavoro, 121:7-18. https://doi.org/10.3280/SL2011-121001
Buonomo, A., & Strozza, S. (2020). La recente migrazione interregionale dei campani [The recent interregional migration of people from Campania]. In: Colucci, M., & Gallo, S. (eds.). Campania in Movimento. Rapporto 2020 Sulle Migrazioni Interne in Italia. Bologna: Il Mulino, p.45-78.
Buonomo, A., Gatti, R., & Benassi, F. (2023). Internal migration patterns of national and foreign population in Italy. A local spatial comparative approach. Migration Letters, 20(3):411-420. https://doi.org/10.47059/ml.v20i3.2854
Cantalini, B., & Valentini, A. (eds.). (2012). La Recente Mobilità Territoriale in Italia-le Migrazioni dal Mezzogiorno al Centro-Nord nel Periodo 1995-2008 [Recent Spatial Mobility in Italy-Migrations from the South to the North- Centre in the Period 1995-2008]. Rome: Istat.
Casacchia, O., & Strozza, S. (2002). Migrations intérieures des italianes avec l’Europe au XIXème et au XXème siècle. L’Italie de pays d’émigration à pays d’immigration [Italian internal migration in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. Italy from country of emigration to country of immigration]. In: Roel, A. E., & Gonzàlez Lopo D. L. (eds.), Movilidad y Migraciónes Internas en Europa Latina, ACTAS del Coloquio Europeo. vol. 133. Spain: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela Publicaciòns, p.161-204.
Casacchia, O., Reynaud, C., Strozza, S., & Tucci, E. (2022). Internal migration patterns of foreign citizens in Italy. International Migration, 60(5):183-197. https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12946
Courgeau, D. (ed.). (2021). Méthodes de Mesure de la Mobilité Spatiale: Migrations Internes, Mobilité Temporaire, Navettes. France: INED Éditions.
Crisci, M., & Di Tanna, B. (2016). Flexible mobility for unstable workers: South-North temporary migration in Italy. Polis (Italy), 30(2):145-176. https://doi.org/10.1424/83907
Crown, D., Gheasi, M., & Faggian, A. (2020). Interregional mobility and the personality traits of migrants. Papers in Regional Science, 99(4):899-914. https://doi.org/10.1111/pirs.12516
De Valk, H.A.G., Windzio, M., Wingens, M., & Aybek, C. (2011). Immigrant settlement and the life course: An exchange of research perspectives and outlook for the future. In: Wingens, M., Windzio, M., De Valk, H.A.G., & Aybek, C. (eds.) A Life-Course Perspective on Migration and Integration. Dordrecht: Springer, p.283-297.
DeWaard, J., & Raymer, J. (2012). The temporal dynamics of international migration in Europe: Recent trends. Demographic Research, 26:543-592.
DeWaard, J., Ha, J.T., Raymer, J., & Wiśniowski, A. (2017). Migration from new-accession countries and duration expectancy in the EU-15: 2002-2008. European Journal of Population, 33:33-53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10680-016-9383-3
Di Bartolomeo, A., & Golini, A. (eds.). (2010). Le Migrazioni in Italia una Prospettiva di Genere [Migration in Italy a Gender Perspective]. Milan: Franco Angeli.
Golini, A. (ed.). (1974). Distribuzione Della Popolazione Migrazioni Interne e Urbanizzazione in Italia [Population Distribution Internal Migration and Urbanization in Italy]. Rome: University of Rome, Department of Statistical, Demographic and Actuarial Sciences.
Golini, A., & Reynaud, C. (2010). South-north movements in Italy forty years later. Rivista Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, 64:101-122.
González-Leonardo, M., López-Gay, A., Newsham, N., Recaño, J., & Rowe, F. (2022). Understanding patterns of internal migration during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Spain. Population, Space and Place, 28(6):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2578
Gramsci, A. (ed.). (2012). Il Risorgimento e l’unità d’Italia [The Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy]. Italy: Donzelli Editore.
Greenwood, M.J. (1997). Internal migration in developed countries. In: Handbook of Population and Family Economics. Vol. 1. Netherlands: Elsevier, p.647-720. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1574-003X(97)80004-9
Halli, S.S., & Rao, K.V. (eds.). (2013). Advanced Techniques of Population Analysis. Berlin: Springer Science and Business Media.
Impicciatore, R., & Strozza, S. (2016). Internal and international migration in Italy. An integrating approach based on administrative data. Polis, 30(2):211-238. https://doi.org/10.1424/83908
Istat. (2017). Il Futuro Demografico del Paese [The Demographic Future of the Country]. Rome: Statistical Report. Available from: https://www.istat.it/it/files//2018/05/previsioni_ demografiche.pdf [Last accessed on 2024 Apr 17].
Istat. (2023). Migrazioni Interne e Internazionali Della Popolazione Residente. Anno 2021 [Internal and International Migration of the Resident Population. Year 2021].
Jozwiak, J. (ed.). (1992). Mathematical Models of Population, Report 8/26. Netherlands: Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI).
Land, K.C., & Rogers, A. (eds.). (1982). Multidimensional Mathematical Demography. New York: Academic Press.
Ledent, J. (1980). Multistate life tables: Movement versus transition perspectives. Environment and Planning A, 12(5):533-562. https://doi.org/10.1068/a120533
Ledent, J. (ed.). (1978). Some Methodological and Empirical Ccnsiderations in the Construction of Increment- Decrement Life Tables. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
Ledent, J., & Rees, P.H. (eds.). (1980). Choices in the Construction of Multiregional life Tables. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis WP, p.80-173. Available from: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/1296/1/ WP-80-173.pdf [Last accessed on 2024 Apr 17].
Long, L.H., & Hansen, K.A. (1975). Trends in return migration to the South. Demography, 12(4):601-614. https://doi.org/10.2307/2060716
Malmusi, D., Borrell, C., & Benach, J. (2010). Migration-related health inequalities: Showing the complex interactions between gender, social class and place of origin. Social Science and Medicine, 71(9):1610-1619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.07.043
Marini, C., & Busetta, A. (eds.). (2005). Demografia, Migrazioni e Politiche Migratorie nel Bacino del Mediterraneo [Demography, Migration and Migration Policies in the Mediterranean Basin]. Milan: Franco Angeli.
Molloy, R., Smith, C.L., & Wozniak, A. (2011). Internal migration in the United States. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 25(3):173-196. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.25.3.173
Philipov, D., & Rogers, A. (1981). Multistate population projections. In: Rogers, A. (ed.) Advances in Multiregional Demography. Laxenburg, Austria: International Standard Book, p.51-82.
Pipitone, V., Licari, F., Foderà, R., & Faggian, A. (2022). Internal migration and technical efficiency: The case of Italy. Applied Economics, 54(14):1639-1653. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2021.1980491
Piras, R. (2007). Rendimento del capitale umano, qualità dell’istruzione e fuga dei cervelli dal Mezzogiorno [Human capital performance, quality of education and brain drain from the Mezzogiorno]. Economia and Lavoro, 2(41):119-138. https://doi.org/10.7384/72340
Preston, S.H., Heuveline, P., & Guillot, M. (eds.). (2001). Demography: Measuring and Modeling Population Processes. New Jersey: Blackwell Publishing.
Primavera, R., (ed.). (2002). Industrializzazione e Migrazioni Interne 1950-1970 [Industrialization and Internal Migration 1950-1970]. Viterbo: Massari editore.
Raymer, J., & Willekens, F. (eds.). (2008). International Migration in Europe: Data, Models and Estimates. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.
Rees, P., Bell, M., Kupiszewski, M., Kupiszewska, D., Ueffing, P., Bernard, A., et al. (2017). The impact of internal migration on population redistribution: An international comparison. Population, Space Place, 23:e2036. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2036
Rees, P.H., & Wilson, A.G. (1975). Accounts and models for spatial demographic analysis 3: Rates and life tables. Environment and Planning A, 7(2):199-231. https://doi.org/10.1068/a070199
Rogers, A. (1973). The multiregional life table. Journal of Mathematical Sociology, 3(1):127-137. https://doi.org/10.1080/0022250X.1973.9989827
Rogers, A. (2008). Demographic modeling of the geography of migration and population: A multiregional perspective. Geographical Analysis, 40(3):276-296. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-4632.2008.00726.x
Rogers, A. (ed.). (1995). Multiregional Demography: Principles Methods and Extensions. New Jersey: Wiley.
Rogers, A. (ed.). (2015). Applied Multiregional Demography: Migration and Population Redistribution. New York: Springer.
Rogers, A., & Belanger, A. (1990). The importance of place of birth in migration and population redistribution analysis. Environment and Planning A, 22(2):193-210. https://doi.org/10.1068/a220193
Rogers, A., & Ledent, J. (1976). Increment-decrement life tables: A comment. Demography, 13(2):287-290. https://doi.org/10.2307/2060807
Rogers, A., & Willekens, F. (1986). Migration and Settlement: A Multiregional Comparative Study. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis ER-86- 009, p.1-14. Available from: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/ eprint/2778/1/ER-86-009.pdf [Last accessed on 2024 Apr 17].
Staniscia, B., & Benassi, F. (eds.). (2018). Does regional development explain international youth mobility? Spatial patterns and global/local determinants of the recent emigration of young Italians. Belgeo Revue Belge de Géographie, 3:1-24. https://doi.org/10.4000/belgeo.30305
Strozza, S., Benassi, F., Ferrara, R., & Gallo, G. (2016). Recent demographic trends in the major Italian urban agglomerations: The role of foreigners. Spatial Demography, 4:39-70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40980-015-0012-2
SVIMEZ. (2009). Rapporto 2009-2015 Sull’economia del Mezzogiorno [2009-2015 Report on the Economy of Southern Italy]. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Tajfel, H. (ed.). (1981). Human Groups and Social Categories: Studies in Social Psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
United Nations. (2014). World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. United Nations: New York.
Willekens, F. (2016). Migration flows: Measurement, analysis and modeling. In: International Handbook of Migration and Population Distribution. New York City: Springer, p.225-241. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7282-2_11
Willekens, F., & Rogers, A. (1978). Spatial Population Analysis: Methods and Computer Programs. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis RR-78- 18. Available from: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/880/1/ WP-78-030.pdf [Last accessed on 2024 Apr 17].