I am interested in the health and mortality of international migrants and their children. Specifically:
How mortality among international migrants and their children varies relative to mortality among natives
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What causes mortality among migrants and their children to vary relative to one another and to natives
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My work is based around the theory of the ‘migrant mortality advantage’ (empirically observed low mortality among migrants relative to natives in high-income countries), which is one of the most pervasive, but least understood, findings in the social sciences. I have three aims in this field:
1
To better understand how and why the 'migrant mortality advantage' varies according to socio-demographic characteristics |
2
To begin quantifying the effect of the 'migrant mortality advantage' on mortality in host and origin countries |
3
To give greater salience to sending countries in the conceptualisation and intepretation of the 'migrant mortality advantage' |
WHY study it?
Increasing proportions of total populations
Over the past several decades, migrants have been increasing in both absolute and relative proportions in nearly all high-income countries. Despite this, we still know little about the characteristics of international migrants and how they differ (or indeed do not differ) from natives.
GROWING IMPACT UPON morbidity and mortality patterns |
INCREASING DIVERSITY OF MIGRANT POPULATIONS |
Health and mortality patterns of migrants are becoming of increasing importance for host countries, as migrants have a growing impact upon demand for health care, health insurance schemes, pension systems, and, eventually, the mortality levels of host countries.
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Migrants are becoming more diverse (in terms of, among other things, country of birth, age at arrival, length of stay, and education). Unsurprisingly, different groups possess unique morbidity and mortality risks which require bespoke health care and services.
This way, we can help maximise the potential social, cultural and economic contributions of migrants, maximise their health capital and support their healthy ageing in their host countries. |