Do Pre-departure Family Dependants Shape Returnees’ Remigration Intentions? Evidence from Developing Country

This study examines how pre-departure dependants shape remigration intentions of international returnee migrants in the context of Ethiopia by using the 2021 Labor Force and Migration Survey (LFMS). While much of the existing literature focuses on the role of various socio-economic factors on remigration intentions, evidence on pre-departure dependants defined as dependants left behind by returnee migrants during their initial migration journey remains limited. As such, by extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Theory of Social Capital, this study contributes to the existing line of literature by answering the following research question: Do pre-departure dependants influence remigration intentions, and how does economic reintegration mediate their relationship? The main results robustly confirm the significant and positive association between having pre-departure dependants and remigration intentions. Conversely, economic reintegration does not substantially mediate the influence of pre-departure dependants on remigration intentions, nor is it significantly associated with remigration intentions. Furthermore, the heterogeneity analysis reveals that males are more inclined to take family responsibilities than females. The findings suggest the need of family-based reintegration programs, such as family counselling, reducing family-related responsibilities of returnees, and moving beyond employment-based economic reintegration efforts.