Theoretical perspectives on elderly migration

Abstract

Contrary to the literature in developing countries, there is a lack of studies on elderly migration in Brazil, where the need for such studies stem from the ageing process faced by its population. This paper provides insights about the adequacy of the international literature on elderly migration (based on countries at advanced stages in the demographic transition) to the Brazilian case. We argue that elderly migration is mostly explained by specific characteristics of individual life cycles at later ages such as retirement and search for family support and reunion. Using data from population censuses, we show that these factors are also relevant in the Brazilian case, but other aspects related to the retirement system and family support are also powerful to explain elderly migration in Brazil. We found two main groups of elderly migrants in Brazil: one with better health and income conditions composed by individuals who migrate without relevant need for family or institutional support; and another group composed by individuals with poorer health and financial conditions who migrate to places where some support is available. We finally analyze the policy implications of these different types of elderly migration.