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Social Networks and the Geographies of Young People’s Migration: Evidence from Independent Child Migration in Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Richard Serbeh

    (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB)

  • Prince Osei-Wusu Adjei

    (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB)

Abstract

Social networks play an important role in shaping major aspects of migratory decisions and outcomes. Adopting an approach, which focused on both before and after stages of migration, this paper examines the value of social networks to the migration of young people by drawing on the experiences of independent child migrants in Ghana. In this paper, we argue that, prior to migration, social networks significantly shape children’s migration trajectories largely through information dissemination on potential destinations and therefore may partly explain the clustering of migrants in certain urban spaces. Besides, through provision of financial resources, such networks account for who migrates and stays put. After migration, social networks by serving as a channel of information flows, enhancing access to jobs and providing informal insurance cover shape major outcomes of young people’s migration. Successful socioeconomic integration of young migrants is a product of membership of village associations. However, social networks do not always engender positive livelihood outcomes due mainly to composition and reciprocity characterising interactions among network actors.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Serbeh & Prince Osei-Wusu Adjei, 2020. "Social Networks and the Geographies of Young People’s Migration: Evidence from Independent Child Migration in Ghana," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 221-240, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:21:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s12134-019-00720-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-019-00720-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Blumenstock, Joshua & Chi, Guanghua & Tan, Xu, 2019. "Migration and the Value of Social Networks," CEPR Discussion Papers 13611, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xin Deng & Miao Zeng & Dingde Xu & Yanbin Qi, 2020. "Does Social Capital Help to Reduce Farmland Abandonment? Evidence from Big Survey Data in Rural China," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Mavis Dako-Gyeke & Richard Baffo Kodom & Alhassan Sulemana, 2023. "Experiences of Unaccompanied Child Migrant Workers from West African Countries Living in Ghana," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 527-546, June.
    3. Grace Spencer & Ernestina Dankyi & Jill Thompson & Faye Acton & Stephen Owusu Kwankye, 2022. "The Health Experiences of Young Internal Migrants in Ghana—Identifying Priorities for Sustainable Health Promotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-14, November.

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