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Independent Child Migrants in Developing Countries: Unexplored links in migration and development

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  • Shahin Yaqub

Abstract

This paper focuses on independent migrant children, defined as below 18 years old, who choose to move from home and live at destinations without a parent or adult guardian. It summarises quantitative and qualitative research, and uses this to reflect on research agendas and global debates towards linking migration and development. The paper surveys historical evidence on linkages between children’s migration and societal development in earlier periods of modernisation, and identifies parallels to contemporary developing countries. The contemporary situation in developing countries is described in terms of: (1) numerical scale; (2) individual and family characteristics of the children involved; (3) decision-makers and decision-making processes in children’s movements; (4) why it happens, including from children’s viewpoints; (5) modes of movements; and (6) situations of children at destinations. The paper considers the extent to which children may demand migration opportunities, and how this demand may be met partly with forms of movement specific to children. Research strategies are discussed to provide a bridge to development issues, including conceptualization of children’s independent movements, children’s labour migration, migration statistics and selection of who migrates. A final section draws on the review to reflect on global debates in child development and societal development.

Suggested Citation

  • Shahin Yaqub, 2009. "Independent Child Migrants in Developing Countries: Unexplored links in migration and development," Papers inwopa09/62, Innocenti Working Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucf:inwopa:inwopa09/62
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    Cited by:

    1. Jessica Heckert, 2015. "New perspective on youth migration," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 33(27), pages 765-800.
    2. de Haan, A., 2011. "Inclusive growth?," ISS Working Papers - General Series 22201, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    3. Erin R. Hamilton & Maryann Bylander, 2021. "The Migration of Children from Mexico to the USA in the Early 2000s," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 40(3), pages 337-361, June.
    4. Mavis Dako-Gyeke & Richard Baffo Kodom & Alhassan Sulemana, 2023. "Experiences of Unaccompanied Child Migrant Workers from West African Countries Living in Ghana," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 527-546, June.
    5. Yaqub, Shahin, 2010. "Does age-at-migration in childhood affect migrant socioeconomic achievements in adulthood?," MPRA Paper 27935, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Dako-Gyeke, Mavis & Kodom, Richard Baffo & Dankyi, Ernestina K. & Sulemana, Alhassan, 2020. "Drivers of independent migration among adolescents from selected West African countries," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    7. Menashe-Oren, A. & Stecklov, G., 2017. "IFAD RESEARCH SERIES 17 - Population age structure and sex composition in sub-Saharan Africa: a rural-urban perspective," IFAD Research Series 280055, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
    8. Roychowdhury, Supriya, 2012. "Child and the city: Autonomous migrants in Bangalore," Working Papers 298, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore.
    9. Ashira Menashe-Oren, 2020. "Migrant-based youth bulges and social conflict in urban sub-Saharan Africa," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 42(3), pages 57-98.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    migrant children; migrant families; migration; unaccompanied children;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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