Irregular migration: the case of west and central african migrants

Details

Supervisors

Docquier, Frédéric

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [60] en sciences économiques, orientation générale

Abstract

The study Irregular Migration to Europe: The Case of West and Central African Migrants examines the raison d'etre for the migration of people from Africa to destination countries in the European Union (EU). The causes for migration to Europe are grouped under push and pull factors and statistical analysis is used to explain why influx to European borders by migrants from West and Central African peaked between 2015-2016. The study evaluates the theoretical explanation for migration with specific emphasis on the neoclassical and human capital schools of thought. The work contends that no single theory gives an overarching explanation of the major reason why migration peaked in the above mentioned years. The study navigates the major migratory routes from Africa to Europe and through some comprehensive graphs describe the detection of migrants provided by European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX). The findings of the study reveal that the push factors for African countries are unemployment, poor wages, political instability, terrorism, massive human rights abuses and demography among others. The pull factors are mainly the direct opposite of the push factors stated above. The study adopted desktop review and statistical analysis as it's main methodology. By and large, the thesis proposes major policy options which will contain and stem immigration to Europe drastically.