Featured Project
Global Mobilities Project
Creating first-of-their-kind large global databases that track all types of human mobility.
Mobility Practices and Processes
One of our six research themes
Why do people move internationally?
At the Migration Policy Centre, we examine the patterns, drivers, and inequalities of human mobility. While migration often dominates policy discussions, our research highlights that it represents only a fraction of global movement. We explore how factors such as economic conditions, visa policies, technology, and smuggling networks shape mobility opportunities and constraints. By integrating migrant perspectives and lived experiences, we work to bridge the gap between policy debates and the realities of movement across borders.
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Did you know?
- Global Mobility Trends: Transnational mobility has increased steadily since 1995, excluding the COVID-19 period. However, the emphasis on migration overlooks the broader spectrum of human movement, including tourism, work, and study.
- Inequalities in Access to Mobility: The cost of travel is disproportionately high for those in lower-income countries, with financial barriers compounded by restrictive visa policies and long bureaucratic delays.
- The Role of Narrative and Categorisation: Policy and academic discussions often fail to distinguish between different types of mobility, leading to fragmented approaches that do not fully account for global movement patterns
Understanding mobility means moving beyond the migration debate to examine the full spectrum of human movement, from opportunity-driven travel to forced displacement.
Ettore Recchi
Part-time Professor
Blog Posts on Mobility Practices and Processes
23 January 2026
From tourist visa to immigration: What is the size of overstaying flows in the Schengen Area?
When people think about ‘irregular migration’ to Europe, they usually picture dangerous boat crossings or jumping over barbed wires at land borders. But there is another, much quieter and more frequent pathway—one that begins...
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26 November 2025
A clock that ticks unequally: New study shows global disparities in wait times for German visa appointments
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22 March 2022
Offshoring and Outsourcing Border Control: The EU’s use of Private Military and Security Companies
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11 January 2023
Borders of rich and poor countries have abundant cross-border traffic infrastructure, new global dataset reveals
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23 January 2026
From tourist visa to immigration: What is the size of overstaying flows in the Schengen Area?
When people think about ‘irregular migration’ to Europe, they usually picture dangerous boat crossings or jumping over barbed wires at land borders. But there is another, much quieter and more frequent pathway—one that begins...
Read more26 November 2025
A clock that ticks unequally: New study shows global disparities in wait times for German visa appointments
Read more22 March 2022
Offshoring and Outsourcing Border Control: The EU’s use of Private Military and Security Companies
Read more11 January 2023