Theoretical framework for the study of the two-way relationship between migration and subjective well-being

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the relevant theoretical frameworks of well-being and migration and the links between the two concepts. The article is part of the theoretical preparatory work for the MIGWELL project. We argue that subjective well-being should be a key concept in migration research, because increasing it at the individual level is a universal human desire. From this perspective, migration – if it is truly voluntary – may be a tool to reach the desired outcome of increasing well-being. In general, micro-level approaches are more suitable for linking subjective well-being and migration. In particular, the "new economics and sociology of migration", the "network theory" and the "capabilities approach" offer the implicit or explicit possibility to do so. Regarding well-being, we apply a hybrid approach, inspired by both the OECD and the WeD concepts. Finally, in this paper we propose a research design that may be suitable (with some limitations) to capture the two-way relationship between the two concepts: the impact of subjective well-being on migration intention and the effect of migration on subjective well-being.

Keywords: migration, well-being, satisfaction, happiness, theory