NOVAFRICA Blog: The Human Side of Migration — Why Personality Matters in Integration

Migration is more than just a legal process; it’s a human journey shaped by personality. While policies set the framework, traits like risk aversion, impatience, and grit often influence how well migrants integrate into new societies. “The Impact of Non-Cognitive Individual Characteristics on Migrant Integration,” a NOVAFRICA working paper by Cátia Batista and Rita Mira Vaz, examines these characteristics and reveals unexpected links between behavior and success in labor markets, social networks, and civic engagement. Understanding these factors can help policymakers and communities develop more innovative and inclusive strategies. In this post, the study’s approach, key findings, and why these insights matter for the future of migration and integration are discussed.

Methodology & Approach

The authors assert that migration extends beyond mere border crossing; it involves establishing lives in new communities. This study investigates how non-cognitive traits-such as risk aversion, impatience, and grit-influence migrants’ integration into Portugal. Researchers collected survey data from the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, focusing on migrants from diverse backgrounds, including a risk-averse, impatient, and highly dedicated group.

The approach was multidimensional:

Integration Indicators: It includes how people participate in the labour market, their social networks, and their engagement in civic activities.
Trait Measurement: Using behavioral experiments and self-reported scales to assess personality traits.
Analytical Framework: Econometric models that connect traits to integration outcomes while accounting for demographic and socioeconomic factors.

This design made it easier for the team to focus on how personality traits play a role, beyond just structural factors like language skills or legal status.

Results of the Study

This paper challenges the view that migrant integration is solely policy-driven and formal education by highlighting non-cognitive traits like risk aversion, impatience, and grit. Focusing on Cape Verdean migrants in Portugal, it finds risk-averse individuals invest more in social ties, impatience links to active citizenship, and grit supports labor market success. The study shows integration is personalized, shaped by individual traits as much as policy.

Risk Aversion: Risk-averse migrants often invest in social ties to foster trust and stability within their communities.
Impatience: Interestingly, impatience is linked to active citizenship-people who want quick results tend to participate in civic activities to speed up their integration.
Grift: Persistence has a subtle yet significant impact, especially in labor market integration, where sustained effort over the long term is crucial.

These results emphasize that integration varies and is influenced by both personal behavioral tendencies and policy structures.

Why This Is So Crucial

Europe faces demographic challenges, and immigration is a crucial solution. Portugal is notable for its inclusive policies, but informal barriers such as language, cultural adaptation, and social acceptance still persist. This research indicates three major findings:

Policy Innovation: Programs can be customized based on personality traits, providing specific support for risk-takers compared to cautious individuals.
NGO Strategies: Community initiatives can really harness qualities like grit to help build resilience among migrants, creating a supportive and empowering environment.
Holistic Integration: Other than employment and accommodation, psychological and behavioral factors are significant for long-term achievement.

In summary, integration is about much more than systems-it’s really about people. Recognizing the human side of issues can significantly influence how societies support and accept migrants, which is essential to migrants’ social development and integration.

Download the Working Paper here.

Authored by: Kaisul Khan MSc. in Development & Public Policy and NOVAFRICA Student Group