Return migration: Evidence from a reception country with a short migration history

Much discussion can be found in the literature on the determinants of immigrants’ decisions to repatriate. Yet, missing is the identification of such determinants where the host country has become a reception country relatively recently. The main objective of this paper is to identify the determinants influencing the decisions of Albanian migrants in Greece to return home. Research is based on quantitative analysis techniques applied to a survey sample of 200 Albanian migrants returning from Greece to Albania. Results indicate that the main determinants driving them back home include the difficulty of integrating into Greek society, racism and failure to find work. Despite certain limitations of the study, the unconventional return migration determinants identified may become key considerations for migration policy makers for many related policy issues in cases where the reception country has a short history of migration.