I do research on global migration, immobility and transnationalism. My work seeks to explain how migration arises, and how it affects societies, families and individuals. I combine my background in Human Geography with perspectives from other disciplines and use both ethnographic and statistical methods. Beyond my thematic specialisms, I have an interest in academic writing, visualization and research communication. See also my personal web site.
Jørgen Carling
Research Professor in Migration Studies
Interests and experience
I am Co-Director of the PRIO Migration Centre (see separate page).
My research primarily addresses these themes:
- Theories of migration and transnationalism
- Migration aspirations and intentions
- Networks and chain migration processes
- Family and gender in migration
- Immigration policy and migration pressure
- Border control and migrant fatalities
- Undocumented migration and human smuggling
- The demography of immigrant communities
- Remittances and migration-development links
I use diverse methods, often in combination:
- Semi-structured interviews
- Participant observation in multi-sited fieldwork
- Purpose-made sample surveys
- Statistical analysis of existing survey data
- Discourse and document analysis
Editorial board memberships
- International Migration
- International Migration Review,
- Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies,
- Migration Letters
- Migration Studies.
Personal profiles on other sites
Language skills
- Mother tongue: Norwegian
- Fluency: English, and Cape Verdean Kriol
- Reading proficiency: Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, French
- All but forgotten: Esperanto and Japanese
Education
- PhD, Human geography (University of Oslo, 2007)
- Cand. polit., Human geography (University of Oslo, 2001)
- Cand. mag., Human geography, demography and economics (University of Oslo, 1998)
- International Baccalaureate (United World College of the Atlantic, 1993)
Projects
All projects
Dec 2018 – Jul 2025
Future Migration as Present Fact (FUMI)
Future Migration as Present Fact (FUMI)
Jan 2017 –
The Meaning of 'Migrants'
The Meaning of 'Migrants'
Jan 2016 –
Critical Perspectives on Migrant Smuggling
Critical Perspectives on Migrant Smuggling
Jul 2015 –
International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe (IMISCOE)
International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe (IMISCOE)
PRIO Fieldwork Network (FIWON)
Sep 2021 – Dec 2022
Migration of asylum seekers and the politics of labelling: The discursive construction of the refugee label in the Norwegian government 2016-2021
Migration of asylum seekers and the politics of labelling: The discursive construction of the refugee label in the Norwegian government 2016-2021
Jan 2020 – Jul 2023
QuantMig: Quantifying Migration Scenarios for Better Policy
QuantMig: Quantifying Migration Scenarios for Better Policy
Jun 2018 – Aug 2024
MIGNEX - Aligning Migration Management and the Migration-Development Nexus
MIGNEX - Aligning Migration Management and the Migration-Development Nexus
Jan 2018 – Jun 2018
Concept, themes and methodology for policy-relevant research on sustainable migration from poor to rich countries
Concept, themes and methodology for policy-relevant research on sustainable migration from poor to rich countries
Aug 2017 – Dec 2020
FINEX: Financial Exclusion, Islamic Finance and Housing in the Nordic Countries
FINEX: Financial Exclusion, Islamic Finance and Housing in the Nordic Countries
Latest publications
All publications
Jørgen Carling (2024)
Mixed methods: bridging the qualitative–quantitative divide in migration research
Mixed methods: bridging the qualitative–quantitative divide in migration research
Book chapter in How to Do Migration Research
Jessica Hagen-Zanker et al. (2024)
The multi-level determinants of international migration aspirations in 25 communities in Africa, Asia and the Middle East
The multi-level determinants of international migration aspirations in 25 communities in Africa, Asia and the Middle East
Journal article in World Development
Jørgen Carling (2024)
Why Do People Migrate? Fresh Takes on the Foundational Question of Migration Studies
Why Do People Migrate? Fresh Takes on the Foundational Question of Migration Studies
Journal article in International Migration Review
Jørgen Carling, Jessica Hagen-Zanker & Zina Weisner (2024)
New insights on the causes of migration
New insights on the causes of migration
MIGNEX Report
Jørgen Carling (2024)
Feilslåtte informasjonskampanjer mot migrasjon
Feilslåtte informasjonskampanjer mot migrasjon
Popular article in Panorama nyheter
Nicolás Caso & Jørgen Carling (2024)
The reach and impact of migration information campaigns in 25 communities across Africa and Asia
The reach and impact of migration information campaigns in 25 communities across Africa and Asia
Journal article in Migration Policy Practice
Jørgen Carling et al. (2024)
Effects of involuntary immobility on development
Effects of involuntary immobility on development
MIGNEX Report
Carlos Vargas-Silva et al. (2023)
Tackling the root causes of migration
Tackling the root causes of migration
MIGNEX Background paper
Jørgen Carling (2023)
The Double Duality of Migrant Smugglers: An Analytical Framework
The Double Duality of Migrant Smugglers: An Analytical Framework
Book chapter in Global Human Smuggling
Jessica Hagen-Zanker & Jørgen Carling (2023)
What are the ‘root causes’ of migration?
What are the ‘root causes’ of migration?
MIGNEX Policy Brief
Latest news
All news
Friday, 6 Sep 2024
Call for papers - Life and migration: Decentering migration from the life aspirations of (potential) migrants
Call for papers - Life and migration: Decentering migration from the life aspirations of (potential) migrants
We invite abstracts for a panel at the IMISCOE Annual Conference, Paris, 1-4 July 2025. The panel aims to offer new insights across theoretical lenses, methodological approaches and geographical contexts. Deadline 23 September 2024.
Sunday, 18 Aug 2024
PRIO Invites Journalists to Apply for Residence Linked to Groundbreaking Research
PRIO Invites Journalists to Apply for Residence Linked to Groundbreaking Research
PRIO hosts six research projects funded by prestigious grants for Europe’s most groundbreaking research. There is now an opportunity for journalists to spend 3-5 months at the institute and engage with these projects.
Wednesday, 22 May 2024
MIGNEX Insight: What`s next for EU policy on migration and development
MIGNEX Insight: What`s next for EU policy on migration and development
In April, MIGNEX convened a major Policy Conference on future EU migration and development policy, in partnership with ODI. See below for a brief summary of our discussions on longstanding and emerging EU policy agendas.
Monday, 8 Apr 2024
New Research Finds Information Campaigns to Deter Migration Have Little Effect
New Research Finds Information Campaigns to Deter Migration Have Little Effect
Research carried out by PRIO has found that public information campaigns warning against migration rarely affect desires to leave. And when they do, they surprisingly tend to increase the wish to migrate.
Friday, 20 Oct 2023
International Group of Early-Career Scholars Learn Survey Methods at PRIO
International Group of Early-Career Scholars Learn Survey Methods at PRIO
Early-career scholars from all over the world came to PRIO to attend a state-of-the-art PhD-level course on survey methods, with a focus on migration research.
Sunday, 9 Apr 2023
Survey Methods in Migration Research: Design, Implementation, and Analysis
Survey Methods in Migration Research: Design, Implementation, and Analysis
PhD-Level Course now open for applications.
Saturday, 22 Oct 2022
FUMI Survey Data Collection Completed in The Gambia
FUMI Survey Data Collection Completed in The Gambia
A dedicated team overcomes flooding and other challenges
Thursday, 22 Sep 2022
International PhD Students Participate in Ethnographic Fieldwork Methodology Course
International PhD Students Participate in Ethnographic Fieldwork Methodology Course
As part of the NORHED II project Partnership for Peace: Better Higher Education for Resilient Societies, PRIO hosted a PhD-level course in Ethnographic Fieldwork Methodology.
Monday, 12 Sep 2022
Early-Career Scholars Learn Survey Methods in Migration Research
Early-Career Scholars Learn Survey Methods in Migration Research
Survey-based research is widespread but also replete with challenges.
Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Next Steps toward New Insights on Migration, Development and Policy from MIGNEX
Next Steps toward New Insights on Migration, Development and Policy from MIGNEX
Successful MIGNEX consortium meeting in Istanbul, with inspiring discussion as the project members continue to build new knowledge on migration, development and policy.
Latest events
All events
Thursday, 17 Oct 2024 15:30–16:30 UTC+02
Decided Return Migration: Emotions, Citizenship, Home and Belonging in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Decided Return Migration: Emotions, Citizenship, Home and Belonging in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Thursday, 30 May 2024 08:30–10:00 UTC+02
The New Pact on Migration and Asylum: Unpacking the EU’s Search for Coherence, Efficiency and Solidarity
The New Pact on Migration and Asylum: Unpacking the EU’s Search for Coherence, Efficiency and Solidarity
Tuesday, 30 Apr 2024 08:30–10:00 UTC+02
New Insights on the Causes of Migration
New Insights on the Causes of Migration
Thursday, 25 April 2024
Registration open for MIGNEX Policy Conference in Brussels: What’s next for EU migration and development policy?
Registration open for MIGNEX Policy Conference in Brussels: What’s next for EU migration and development policy?
Monday, 30 Aug 2021 15:00–16:00 UTC+02
Transnational lives: the meanings and implications of living in two countries
Transnational lives: the meanings and implications of living in two countries
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 13:00–14:30 UTC+02
Ensuring comparability in cross-national research on migration
Ensuring comparability in cross-national research on migration
Friday, 11 Dec 2020 14:00–15:00 UTC+01
Translating migration theory into empirical propositions
Translating migration theory into empirical propositions
Thursday, 19 Nov 2020 14:00–16:00 UTC+01
Visions for research on migrant transnationalism
Visions for research on migrant transnationalism
Thursday, 8 Oct 2020 15:00–16:30 UTC+02
Sampling respondents in migration surveys: challenges and trade-offs
Sampling respondents in migration surveys: challenges and trade-offs
Monday, 28 Oct 2019 08:30–10:00 UTC+01
Transnational Lives in the Welfare State: Presentation of Findings
Transnational Lives in the Welfare State: Presentation of Findings
Latest blog posts
All blog posts
Tuesday, 18 Feb 2020
Why We Need Research on Migrant Transnationalism Today
Why We Need Research on Migrant Transnationalism Today
Friday, 15 Nov 2019
Accountable to Whom? Reflecting on the ethics of doing migration research
Accountable to Whom? Reflecting on the ethics of doing migration research
Monday, 27 Aug 2018
Is ‘Sustainable Migration’ a Valuable Concept?
Is ‘Sustainable Migration’ a Valuable Concept?
Monday, 16 Jul 2018
Record deaths at sea: will ‘regional disembarkation’ help save lives?
Record deaths at sea: will ‘regional disembarkation’ help save lives?
Saturday, 4 Nov 2017
Migrant Smugglers Are Winning. Here’s Why
Migrant Smugglers Are Winning. Here’s Why
Tuesday, 12 Sep 2017
Batman in Vienna: Choosing How to Confront Migrant Smuggling
Batman in Vienna: Choosing How to Confront Migrant Smuggling
Wednesday, 21 Jun 2017
A PhD by Publication Allows You to Write for Real and Varied Audiences, Inviting Intellectual Exchanges that Benefit your Research
A PhD by Publication Allows You to Write for Real and Varied Audiences, Inviting Intellectual Exchanges that Benefit your Research
Monday, 19 Sep 2016
The End Of Migrants As We Know Them?
The End Of Migrants As We Know Them?
Monday, 7 Sep 2015
Refugees are Also Migrants. And All Migrants Matter
Refugees are Also Migrants. And All Migrants Matter
Thursday, 11 Jun 2015
Finding Connections: The Nexus between Migration and Corruption
Finding Connections: The Nexus between Migration and Corruption
In the media
March 2024
PRIO researcher Jørgen Carling, one of the co-authors of a paper showing information campaigns to deter migration have little effect, penned an opinion piece on the topic for the Norwegian aid magazine, Panorama.
April 2023
PRIO Researcher Jørgen Carling’s work on migration was mentioned in an article on migration in Bhutan, in the newspaper The Bhutanese.
February 2023
PRIO Researchers Jørgen Carling and Cathrine Talleraas’s PRIO Paper on Root Causes and Drivers of Migration was quoted in an article on US migration, on the news site Townhall.
PRIO started listing media appearances on profiles in 2023. Earlier media appearances may not be listed.
Work positions
2011–
Research Professor in Migration StudiesPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2016
Visiting scholarUnited Nations University-MERIT, Maastricht
2010
Visiting scholarNational University of Singapore
2007–2011
Senior ResearcherPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2005
Visiting scholarCOMPAS, University of Oxford
2003
Visiting scholarNetherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)
2002–2007
Doctoral researcherPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
