The determinants of modern Maltese emigration

Abstract

In a seminal paper on modem emigration from the Maltese Islands, Huw R. Jones concludes that emigration seems to have been influenced more by socio-demographic factors than by economic forces. This conclusion is supported by a study on emigration from Gozo carried out by Russell King. These results differ from those obtained from interviews made to Maltese emigrants and their relatives by Geoff Dench and R. Grillo. These two researchers point out that economic motives were foremost in the minds of the Maltese before deciding to emigrate. An evaluation of these divergent conclusions is therefore called for. Maltese governments have followed an active emigration policy since 1948 when a Passage Assistance Scheme was introduced. Evidently research that clarifies the primary parameters that condition emigration assumes dimensions beyond pure academic interests; the conclusions could influence the government's views on demographic and economic policies. In this paper, therefore, we evaluate the econometric results of Messrs. Jones and King and we test a new set of emigration functions using cross-sectional and time series data. The theoretical discussion that justifies the inclusion of the parameters in the equations is kept very brief. The paper is concluded by comments upon the significance for policy of the estimated parameters.