The Economic and Anthropological Aspects of Migration: A Bibliometric Analysis Using VOS Viewer

International Journal of Humanities and Social Science

© 2025 by SSRG - IJHSS Journal

Volume 12 Issue 5

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Sahana Kuttuva

10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V12I5P103

How to Cite?

Sahana Kuttuva, "The Economic and Anthropological Aspects of Migration: A Bibliometric Analysis Using VOS Viewer," SSRG International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 12,  no. 5, pp. 18-29, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V12I5P103

Abstract:

A strong understanding of migration dynamics is essential for every nation, forming the basis for effective employment, social protection, climate adaptation, and development policies. The study investigates migration’s economic and anthropological dimensions as a global phenomenon to evaluate systemic drivers, such as wages, labor markets, and climate shocks, as well as social dimensions such as household strategies, migrant networks, and cultural norms. A dataset of 1,831 publications from 2000 to 2025 was analyzed using bibliometric and visual mapping techniques. Preliminary analysis of author and country collaborations showed that the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany dominate model-based and comparative studies, while India, Bangladesh, and Turkey contribute case studies on rural poverty, remittances, and climate induced migration. The most cited author was Beine (753 citations), whose work links skilled migration to education incentives and governance transfer, and the most cited paper was Storper (781 citations, 2009) on agglomeration economies. Keyword trends peaked between 2016 and 2018, showing a widespread shift from single-country economic studies to multi-causal, cross border approaches. Findings show rising concern over inequality, displacement, and integration challenges, paired with solutions emphasizing remittance channels, diaspora engagement, and social protection. The study suggests practical, social, and research implications for stakeholders.

Keywords:

Migration, Development Economics, Anthropology, Bibliometric Analysis, VOS viewer.

References:

[1] International Organization for Migration, World Migration Report 2024, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://publications.iom.int/books/world-migration-report-2024
[2] Dilip Ratha, Remittances Slower in 2023, Expected to Grow Faster in 2024.
[Google Scholar]
[3] George J. Borjas, “The Labor Demand Curve is Downward Sloping: Reexamining the Impact of Immigration on the Labor Market,” The Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 118, no. 4, pp. 1335–1374, 2003.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[4] John Kennan, and James R. Walker, “The Effect of Expected Income on Individual Migration Decisions,” Econometrica, vol. 79, no. 1, pp. 211–251, 2011.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[5] Douglas S. Massey, “The Social and Economic Origins of Immigration,” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. 510, no. 1, pp. 60–72, 1990.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[6] Audrey Singer, and Douglas S. Massey, “The Social Process of Undocumented Border Crossing among Mexican Migrants,” International Migration Review, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 561–592, 1998.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] M. Alimullah Miyan, “Droughts in Asian Least Developed Countries: Vulnerability and Sustainability,” Weather and Climate Extremes, vol. 7, pp. 8–23, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Jan Selby et al., “Climate Change and The Syrian Civil War Revisited,” Political Geography, vol. 60, pp. 232–244, 2017.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] Michel Beine, and Lionel Jeusette, “A Meta-analysis of the Literature on Climate Change and Migration,” Journal of Demographic Economics, vol. 87, no. 3, pp. 293–344, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[10] Vera Chiodi, Esteban Jaimovich, and Gabriel Montes-Rojas, “Migration, Remittances and Capital Accumulation: Evidence from Rural Mexico,” Journal of Development Studies, vol. 48, no. 8, pp. 1139–1155, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] Ricardo Hausmann, and Ljubica Nedelkoska, “Welcome Home in a Crisis: Effects of Return Migration on the Non-Migrants’ Wages and Employment,” European Economic Review, vol. 101, pp. 101–132, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[12] Esther Mirjam Girsberger, Romuald Méango, and Hillel Rapoport, “Regional Migration and Wage Inequality in the West African Economic and Monetary Union,” Journal of Comparative Economics, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 385-404, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] Merril Silverstein, Zhen Cong, and Shuzhuo Li, “Intergenerational Transfers and Living Arrangements of Older People in Rural China: Consequences for Psychological Well-Being,” The Journal of Gerontology Series B, vol. 61, no. 5, pp. S256–S266, 2006.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[14] Michel Beine, Frederic Docquier, and Hillel Rapoport, “Brain Drain and Human Capital Formation in Developing Countries: Winners and Losers,” The Economic Journal, vol. 118, no. 528, pp. 631–652, 2008.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] Michel Beine, Frederic Docquier, and Caglar Özden, “Diaspora Effects in International Migration: Key Questions and Methodological Issues,” Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, vol. 146, pp. 639–659, 2010.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[16] Michel Beine, Pauline Bourgeon, and Jean-Charles Bricongne, “Aggregate Fluctuations and International Migration,” The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, vol. 121, no. 1, pp. 117–152, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[17] Michel Beine, and Christopher Parsons, “Climatic Factors as Determinants of International Migration,” The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, vol. 117, no. 2, pp. 723-767, 2014.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[18] Michael Beine, and Khalid Sekkat, “Skilled Migration and The Transfer of Institutional Norms,” IZA Journal of Migration, vol. 2, 2013.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[19] David Mckenzie, and Hillel Rapoport, “Network Effects and The Dynamics of Migration and Inequality: Theory and Evidence from Mexico,” Journal of Development Economics, vol. 84, no. 1, pp. 1–24, 2007.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[20] Frederic Docquier, and Hillel Rapoport, “Skilled Migration: The Perspective of Developing Countries,” SSRN Electronic Journal, 2004.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[21] Douglas S. Massey, and Fernando Riosmena, “Undocumented Migration from Latin America in an Era of Rising U.S. Enforcement,” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. 630, no. 1, pp. 294–321, 2010.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[22] Douglas S. Massey, William G. Axinn, and Dirgha J. Ghimire, “Environmental Change and Out-migration: Evidence from Nepal,” Population and Environment, vol. 32, pp. 109–136, 2010.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[23] Md. Zobayer Bin Amir, and Md. Khaled Bin Amir, “Impact of Remittances on Economic Growth in Africa: An Econometric Analysis,” International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 64–72, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[24] Amir Hamza, Guoqing Shi, and Babul Hossain, “Migration as an Adaptation Measure to Achieve Resilient Lifestyle in the Face of Climate-Induced Drought: Insight from the Thar Desert in Pakistan,” Water (Basel), vol. 16, no. 18, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[25] Carren Ginsburg et al., “Residential Mobility, Socioeconomic Context and Body Mass Index in a Cohort of Urban South African adolescents,” Health Place, vol. 19, pp. 99–107, 2013.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[26] Gwenaelle Goude et al., “New Insights on Neolithic Food and Mobility Patterns in Mediterranean Coastal Populations,” American Journal of Biological Anthropology, vol. 173, no. 2, pp. 218–235, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[27] N.R. Bhanumurthy, and Arup Mitra, “Economic Growth, Poverty, and Inequality in Indian States in the Pre-reform and Reform Periods,” Asian Development Review, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 79–99, 2004.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[28] Chandni Singh, and Ritwika Basu, “Moving In and Out of Vulnerability: Interrogating Migration as an Adaptation Strategy Along a Rural–urban Continuum in India,” The Geographical Journal, vol. 186, no. 1, pp. 87–102, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[29] Jenna Nobles, Luis Rubalcava, and Graciela Teruel, “After Spouses Depart: Emotional Wellbeing among Nonmigrant Mexican Mothers,” Social Science & Medicine, vol. 132, pp. 236–244, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[30] Gokul P. Paudel et al., “Scale-appropriate Mechanization Impacts on Productivity among Smallholders: Evidence from Rice Systems in the Mid-hills of Nepal,” Land use policy, vol. 85, pp. 104–113, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[31] Murat G. Kırdar, and D. Şirin Saracoğlu, “Migration and Regional Convergence: An Empirical Investigation for Turkey,” Papers in Regional Science, vol. 87, no. 4, pp. 545–567, 2008.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[32] Oguz Esen, and Ayla Oğuş Binatlı, “The Impact of Syrian Refugees on the Turkish Economy: Regional Labour Market Effects,” Social Sciences, vol. 6, no. 4, 2017.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[33] Michael Storper, and Allen J. Scott, “Rethinking Human Capital, Creativity and Urban Growth,” Journal of Economic Geography, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 147–167, 2009.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[34] Lucia Mancini, and Serenella Sala, “Social Impact Assessment in the Mining Sector: Review and Comparison of Indicators Frameworks,” Resources Policy, vol. 57, pp. 98–111, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[35] Holger Görg, and Eric Strobl, “Spillovers from Foreign Firms through Worker Mobility: An Empirical Investigation*,” The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, vol. 107, no. 4, pp. 693–709, 2005.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[36] Oded Galor, and Ömer Özak, “The Agricultural Origins of Time Preference,” American Economic Review, vol. 106, no. 10, pp. 3064–3103, 2016.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[37] Cristina Cattaneo, and Giovanni Peri, “The Migration Response to Increasing Temperatures,” Journal of Development Economics, vol. 122, pp. 127–146, 2016.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[38] Roman Hoffmann et al., “A Meta-analysis of Country-level Studies on Environmental Change and Migration,” Nature Climate Change, vol. 10, pp. 904–912, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[39] Raphael J. Nawrotzki et al., “Amplification or Suppression: Social Networks and The Climate Change—Migration Association in Rural Mexico,” Global Environmental Change, vol. 35, pp. 463–474, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[40] Simon Bertoli, and Jesus Fernández-Huertas Moraga, “Multilateral Resistance to Migration,” Journal of Development Economics, vol. 102, pp. 79–100, 2013.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[41] Max Nathan, “The Wider Economic Impacts of High-skilled Migrants: A Survey of the Literature for Receiving Countries,” IZA Journal of Migration, vol. 3, 2014. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[42] Eric T. Stuen, Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, and Keith E. Maskus, “Skilled Immigration and Innovation: Evidence from Enrolment Fluctuations in us Doctoral Programmes,” The Economic Journal, vol. 122, no. 565, pp. 1143–1176, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[43] Frederic Docquier, B. Lindsay Lowell, and Abdeslam Marfouk, “A Gendered Assessment of Highly Skilled Emigration,” Population and Development Review, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 297–321, 2009.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[44] Michel A.R. Beine, Frederic Docquier, and Hillel Rapoport, “Brain Drain and LDCs’ Growth: Winners and Losers,” SSRN Electronic Journal, 2003.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[45] David Card, “The Impact of the Mariel Boatlift on the Miami Labor Market,” ILR Review, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 245-257, 1990.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[46] Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano, and Giovanni Peri, “Rethinking the Effect of Immigration on Wages,” Journal of the Economic Association, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 152–197, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[47] Francesc Ortega, and Giovanni Peri, “The Role of Income and Immigration Policies in Attracting International Migrants,” SSRN Electronic Journal, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[48] Christian Dustmann, Tommaso Frattini, and Gianandrea Lanzara, “Educational Achievement of Second Generation Immigrants: An International Comparison,” Economic Policy, vol. 27, no. 69, pp. 143-185, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[49] Giovanni Peri, and Chad Sparber, “Highly Educated Immigrants and Native Occupational Choice,” Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 385–411, 2011.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[50] Christian Dustmann, Tommaso Frattini, and Ian P. Preston, “The Effect of Immigration along the Distribution of Wages,” The Review of Economic Studies, vol. 80, no. 1, pp. 145–173, 2013.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[51] Oded Stark, and J. Edward Taylor, “Migration Incentives, Migration Types: The Role of Relative Deprivation,” The Economic Journal, vol. 101, no. 408, pp. 1163-1178, 1991.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[52] Robert E.B. Lucas, and Oded Stark, “Motivations to Remit: Evidence from Botswana,” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 93, no. 5, 1985.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[53] Jan Freihardt, “Environmental Shocks and Migration Among a Climate-vulnerable Population in Bangladesh,” Population and Environment, vol. 47, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[54] Salvatore Di Falco et al., “Leaving Home: Cumulative Climate Shocks and Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Environmental and Resource Economics, vol. 87, pp. 321–345, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[55] Xiameng Pan, and Chang Sun, “Internal Migration, Remittances and Economic Development,” Journal of International Economics, vol. 147, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[56] Gokul P. Paudel, Trung Thanh Nguyen, and Ulrike Grote, “Trade‐offs Between Labour Migration and Agricultural Productivity: Evidence from Smallholder Wheat Systems in Nepal,” Journal of International Development, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 202–229, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]