Causes and Determinants of Return Migration in Iran During 2006-2011

Return migration is a type of migration forms and patterns which attracted limited attention in research literature, particularly in Iran. Rise in urban-rural migration compared to  rural-urban migration in the 2001 Census, can indicate some changes in migration pattern in Iran, hence understanding such changes is important. The aim of this paper is to measure return migration and identify its associated factors based on available data. In this study, Neoclassic economic approach was employed to analyze return migration and its causes in different regions in Iran. The method used in this study was a secondary analysis of census data (2% data of Statistical Center of Iran). The study suggested that migrants return to some provinces such as Khorasan Razavi, Fars, Gilan and Mazanderan was more than others. Accompany the family, access to better housing and employment were identified as determinants of return migration. Access to better housing was one of the rationales for return migration which impacted different socio-economic classes and was observed in all different job categories (employer, employee, independent worker, private sector worker, etc.). Pattern of return migration represents a return to neighboring provinces, developed and semi-developed areas. Logistic regression analysis indicated that sex, education, age, migration flows and level of development explain 27% of changes in economic migration among return migrants.