Hotels and employment aren't major 'pull factors' for refugees – here's what really draws people to move

By Jackline Wahba, Professor of Economics, University of Southampton
Valentina Di Iasio, Research Fellow, Economics of Migration, University of Southampton

People make decisions about where to live, when to leave and where to move based on several complex factors. Among policymakers and people who study immigration, the term “push” factor is used to describe what drives people to leave a country (for example, violence, persecution or poverty).

For many years, the UK and other governments have claimed they can stop or reduce irregular migration by removing “pull” factors – those that attract people to a particular country. These might include a generous public welfare system or job opportunities.

In recent months, UK government…

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