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International Journal of
Population Studies The use of multiregional life tables in Italy

is particularly important for Italy, a country significantly that have already shown the validity of using this type of
affected by internal migration. Before the unification of measure based on multiregional approach (Rogers, 1995).
Italy (1861), the peninsula was divided into many small Although many factors (i.e., economic characteristics of
states that differed in language, culture, customs, and the area of origin and destination, quality of life, efficiency
economy (Gramsci, 2012). Even today, these differences of institutions, and infrastructure) have been considered in
persist and have led to internal migrations with specific the study of recent internal migration flows and dynamics
characteristics that have changed over time (Pipitone (Greenwood, 1997; Crown et al., 2020; Pipitone et al.,
et al., 2022). Since the mid-1990s, migratory behavior on 2022), to the best of our knowledge, only a few studies
the Italian peninsula has changed significantly (Golini & have focused on the role played by the migrant’s place of
Reynaud, 2010). The origins and destinations of the flows, birth. This is quite surprising since, according to past and
which were previously characterized by a clear prevalence even more recent research, the international literature has
of moving from the south to the center-north (Marini & shown that place of birth plays a relevant role in shaping
Busetta, 2005), are now much more heterogeneous and migration choices both internally and abroad (Long &
complex (Bonifazi & Heins, 2017). The new attractiveness Hansen, 1975; Rogers & Belanger, 1990; Abel, 2013).
of the northeast and the growth of shifts between the There is no doubt that one’s place of birth still constitutes
northeast and northwest have led to an increase in non- a powerful background variable on the basis of which
traditional migratory trajectories (Bubbico et al., 2011).
individuals shape their existence, values, and aspirations.
In addition to the shifting migratory flows, the Migration behavior is also strongly linked to this variable,
characteristics of the individuals that drive such especially in a country like Italy, which is characterized by
mobilization have also altered. In the past, internal deep spatial disparities and even inequalities that generate
migration was more concentrated among relatively young different propensities to move (Biagi et al., 2011; Basile
adults, but in recent years, the age profile has changed et al., 2012).
(Bonifazi et al., 2012). On the one hand, the migrating Considering place of birth is of central importance in
population has been experiencing aging, but on the other, the study of internal migration. First, Italian regions are
an increasingly important role has been played by young characterized by distinct cultures, economies, and even
graduates, fueling a very lively discussion about the escape languages (Basile et al., 2012; Gramsci, 2012). These
of the top talents from the south of Italy (Piras, 2007; Basile characteristics are signs that the Italian context could
et al., 2019). During the same period, the number of women
engaging in internal migration increased, filling the gender be treated as studying international migration among
countries (where the place of birth of migrants is a crucial
gap in internal migration between Italians’ geographical variable). This holds significant relevance working in terms
macroregions (northwest, northeast, center, and south), of macroareas, as proposed by Bernard & Vidal (2023).
which, in the past, was dominated by men (Di Bartolomeo Second, place of birth is linked to the concept of identity
& Golini, 2010). In the light of these increasingly atypical, (Tajfel, 1981; Akerlof & Kranton, 2000); in other words, it
temporary (based on the growth of commuting), and allows for identifying the sociocultural roots of those who
widespread (due to the increasing ease of moving) shifts,
the study of migration based on the duration of residence migrate, which constitute key information about those
in a territorial area has become particularly important. The who change residence. Third, considering the place of
international literature has already shed light on a positive birth allows for distinguishing the shift of those who return
association between the length of residence and well-being, to it, those who leave it and those who move between two
territories that do not involve their place of birth. Therefore,
education, and employment of the immigrant population knowing the place of birth enables determining the type of
(Malmusi et al., 2010; De Valk et al., 2011). However, migration flow (Bonifazi et al., 2021). Fourth, individuals’
estimating the duration of residence is not always possible.
It is generally calculated based on retrospective questions place of birth changes their propensity to migrate. Prior
that refer to a limited number of years. Moreover, the data research shows that the risk of migration is much higher
are not always provided (in the Italian context, it would not among persons returning to their place of birth, and the
have been possible to reconstruct the duration of residence duration of residence is affected by this variable (Rogers,
with retrospective questions for the period studied in this 1995; Long & Hansen, 1975; Ledent, 1980). For all these
work). To overcome these limitations, we propose to study reasons, we applied Rogers’ (1995) multiregional model
internal migration by measuring the duration of residence place-of-birth-dependent approach (Ledent, 1980) to
where each birth (hypothetical) cohort lives throughout assess the internal migration flows within Italy.
their lives. This approach is in line with the previous Unlike studies where the multiregional life table is
studies (DeWaard & Raymer, 2012; DeWaard et al., 2017) applied to international migrations, we used place of

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1898