Introduction

This book responds to growing calls to conceptualise and analyse internal migration as a trajectory that unfolds over the life course of individuals rather than a series of discrete events. It combines macro and micro modes of analysis into a cohort framework to explore how individuals transition from one migration to the next. The book presents new methodological developments in longitudinal analysis and applies them to internal migration in 27 European countries. It demonstrates that the traditional dichotomy between migrants and non-migrants conceals a wide range of migration behaviour and heterogeneity among repeat migrants. It also reveals a continuity of migration behaviour: being exposed to the challenges and benefits of migration early in life predisposes individuals toward migration in adulthood. By adopting a cohort approach to migration coupled with state-of-the-art methods and novel concepts, this book provides new insights into internal migration for graduate students, academics and policymakers interested in understanding migration behaviour in Europe and beyond.