Date of Award

8-2010

Document Type

Campus Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Public Affairs/International Relations

First Advisor

Charles Cnudde

Second Advisor

Tim Sieber

Third Advisor

Carlos Eduardo Siqueira

Abstract

This study measured the level of association between one's Relative Socioeconomic Status (SES) and one's probability of migration to the United States. The objective is to identify a concept that explains not only migration decisions for economical purposes, but also migration decisions made based on educational, social, cultural, religious, health, political purposes, etc.

Three hypotheses were tested: 1) the higher the relative SES of one's household during childhood compared to one's current SES, the more likely this individual will be to emigrate; 2) the higher the relative SES of one's peers, friends, or relatives in the home country compared to one's current SES, the more likely this individual will be to migrate; and 3) The higher the relative SES of one's peers who have migration, experience compared to one's current SES, the more likely this individual will be to emigrate.

Data collected from a sample of Brazilian immigrants living in Massachusetts that participated in the Relative Socioeconomic Status Survey (2006-2007) provided evidence that Relative SES is a relevant determinant in the decision of Brazilians to emigrate to the United States.

Comments

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