Family, obligations, and migration: the role of kinship in Cameroon

Annett Fleischer
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Annett Fleischer: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany

No WP-2006-047, MPIDR Working Papers from Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of family and kin networks on the individual decision to migrate. The study is based on qualitative ethnographic data collected during field research in Cameroon and shows the considerable impact of the extended family on the migrant’s decision to leave Cameroon for Germany. Migrants do not necessarily set out to pursue individual goals. They are often delegated to leave by authority figures in their extended family. The individual is part of an informal reciprocal system of exchange, which is based on trust, has social consequences, and includes duties and responsibilities for both sides.

Keywords: Cameroon; Germany; decision making; kinship; migration; race relations; remittances (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2006
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-dev and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:wpaper:wp-2006-047

DOI: 10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2006-047

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