Magnitude and selectivity of return migration in Uruguay (1986-2015)

Abstract

The primary objective of the article is to describe the intensity and selectivity by sex, age and educational attainment of international return migration in Uruguay, from the leading countries of emigration: Spain, United States, Argentina, and Brazil. Between the conclusions stands that the magnitude of return migration reached its highest level ever in 2011, slightly above the observed after the end of the last military dictatorship, although concerning intensity, the propensity to return of emigrants found in the period 2010-2015 would be slightly lower than that estimated for the period 1991-1996. Another result is the decreasing magnitude of return flows at the end of the period -between 2013 and 2015- and selectivity of the phenomenon, most significant among males and the active population aged between 25 and 34 years. Regarding educational attainment, a pattern of negative selectivity is found among the returnees from the United States and positive among those returning from Argentina.