Chapter 1 Introduction
28 1.4.2. Sources of information There are two main factors which limit the discussion on migrants and cities. Firstly, basic subnational data on migration is seriously limited in terms of availability, accuracy, comprehensiveness and comparability. Secondly, research on migration at subnational level has focused predominantly on localities in North America. Most studies on new destinations in Europe and other regions are conducted on a national scale. Analyses of different scale levels pose a challenge for a comparative study (Winders, 2014). Much groundwork is therefore needed on a wide range of new destinations especially in the Global South for insightful comparison. With these caveats, the present report intends to discuss some of the compelling empirical realities of a wide range of locations around the world as migrants move among a range of destinations, especially urban areas, and maintain social connections across them. Both international and internal migrants gravitate to and invest their resources in urban areas, where more and more of the global population is expected to reside (UN DESA, 2014). The present report draws on a variety of primary and secondary sources of information to discuss new urban migration trends and mobility patterns and to explore their development implications and governance challenges. • A literature review was conducted on a wide range of topics from urbanization, slum upgrading, migration and development, migrant inclusion policies and practices, diversity management, to urban governance and citizenship in order to identify the report’s sub-themes and experts. The serious shortage in existing studies that examine migration dynamics at subnational level and migrant life and work in cities, especially in the cities of the Global South, was noted. • Experts were identified to provide background papers reviewing urban migration trends in major regions and countries, their challenges and opportunities and urban migration policy and partnership examples. Specific topics such as migrant entrepreneurship, migrant health, and migrant-specific vulnerability and resilience in urban settings were included in the set of background papers, as there is particular dearth of research on these topics. • In addition to the background papers, local authorities, including several mayors, contributed text boxes in order to share their experiences and perspectives on specific challenges posed by urban migration as well as innovative local solutions. • IOM Regional Offices provided relevant background information as well as interview cases with urban migrants in order to add the critical migrant voices to the present report.