Cite as:
Bailey A J, Blake M K, Cooke T J, 2004, "Migration, care, and the linked lives of dual-earner households" Environment and Planning A 36(9) 1617 – 1632
Download citation data in RIS format

Migration, care, and the linked lives of dual-earner households

Adrian J Bailey, Megan K Blake, Thomas J Cooke

Received 28 August 2003; in revised form 8 December 2003

Abstract. In this paper we explore how family relations influence the migration decisions of partners in dual-earner households. Specifically, we focus on how care responsibilities link the lives of partners, their children, and their parents, and how these 'linked lives' enable and constrain migration. We adopt a grounded theory approach and interview partners in two suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. The results have two implications for the development of family migration theory. First, as dual-earner households make family migration decisions in the context of linked lives, these migration decisions cannot be understood as either economically driven or care driven, being contextualised by both spheres. Second, the importance of intergenerational links may increase the incidence of return migration of later-life dual-earner households.

Restricted material:

 Full-text PDF size: 143 Kb

 References  75 references, 30 with DOI links ()

Your computer (IP address: 50.19.155.235) has not been recognised as being on a network authorised to view the full text or references of this article. If you are a member of a university library that has a subscription to the journal, please contact your serials librarian (subscriptions information).