Myrdal's concept
Myrdal (1957) argued growth or decline in a region sets off changes that reinforce the initial direction, so markets alone do not close regional gaps.
Massey's theory
Massey (1990) argued migration expands networks, shifts income distribution through remittances, and changes land use and work culture. Massey and colleagues (1993) set it beside the new economics of labour migration, and Kandel and Massey (2002) described a culture of migration.
Evidence and limits
Massey and Espinosa (1997) found ties to migrants raise migration odds. Fussell and Massey (2004) found weaker effects in cities, Garip (2008) showed social capital works differently across contexts, and flows can saturate or turn into return migration.
FAQ
- What is cumulative causation in simple terms?
- Early migrants pave the way, so more and more people follow.
- Does migration keep growing forever?
- No; effects weaken as the pool of potential migrants shrinks or in urban settings.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- Myrdal, G. (1957). Economic theory and under-developed regions. Duckworth. Myrdal's original idea of circular cumulative causation.
- Massey, D. S. (1990). Social structure, household strategies, and the cumulative causation of migration. Population Index, 56(1), 3–26. The founding statement for migration.
- Massey, D. S., Arango, J., Hugo, G., Kouaouci, A., Pellegrino, A., & Taylor, J. E. (1993). Theories of international migration: A review and appraisal. Population and Development Review, 19(3), 431–466. A classic review of migration theories.
- Massey, D. S., & Espinosa, K. E. (1997). What's driving Mexico-U.S. migration? A theoretical, empirical, and policy analysis. American Journal of Sociology, 102(4), 939–999. Tests competing theories with Mexican data.
- Kandel, W., & Massey, D. S. (2002). The culture of Mexican migration: A theoretical and empirical analysis. Social Forces, 80(3), 981–1004. How migration becomes a cultural norm.
- Fussell, E., & Massey, D. S. (2004). The limits to cumulative causation: International migration from Mexican urban areas. Demography, 41(1), 151–171. Limits of the theory in cities.
- Garip, F. (2008). Social capital and migration: How do similar resources lead to divergent outcomes? Demography, 45(3), 591–617. Social capital's divergent effects.