The interplay of health, economy, and politics in MENA region migration patterns: a panel data analysis (2000–2020)

Abstract Background The MENA region experiences a high migration rate. Migration has a profound effect on the demography, health status, labor market and cultural diversity of the region. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the migration crisis in MENA region. Method This study wa...

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Main Authors: Jalal Arabloo, Pirhossein Kolivand, Peyman Saberian, Peyman Namdar, Soheila Rajaie, Fereshte Karimi, Arash Parvari, Raziye Alishavandi, Ahad Bakhtiari, Samad Azari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23627-x
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author Jalal Arabloo
Pirhossein Kolivand
Peyman Saberian
Peyman Namdar
Soheila Rajaie
Fereshte Karimi
Arash Parvari
Raziye Alishavandi
Ahad Bakhtiari
Samad Azari
author_facet Jalal Arabloo
Pirhossein Kolivand
Peyman Saberian
Peyman Namdar
Soheila Rajaie
Fereshte Karimi
Arash Parvari
Raziye Alishavandi
Ahad Bakhtiari
Samad Azari
author_sort Jalal Arabloo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The MENA region experiences a high migration rate. Migration has a profound effect on the demography, health status, labor market and cultural diversity of the region. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the migration crisis in MENA region. Method This study was conducted with the panel data method in 2023. The data of 20 countries of MENA region were collected from 2000 to 2020. Information of 16 variables were grouped into 5 categories: health, demographic, economic, climatic, and political. FGLS model was used to determine the impact of different variables on the migration in Mena region. Excel 2019 and Stata 13 software were used. Results The model utilized fixed effects while addressing cross-sectional dependence, variance heteroscedasticity, and serial correlation, employing the FGLS method for estimation. Within the health variables, the mortality rate had a positive and significant impact on net migration (C = 1132.915, P < 0.001). Conversely, several health-related factors exhibited negative significant effects: Out-Of-Pocket expenses (C = -1797.265, P < 0.001), Current Health Expenditure (C = -9137.099, P < 0.001), and the mortality rate from communicable diseases (C = -96.206, P < 0.001). From an economic standpoint, both GDP per capita (C = 0.001, P = 0.02) and inflation (C = 4638.81, P < 0.001) were identified as having significant positive effects on migration. In terms of demographics, the total population variable also demonstrated a positive significant effect (C = 0.001, P < 0.001). Additionally, political factors such as Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) related to conflict and terrorism positively influenced migration (C = 31.991, P < 0.001). Two climatic factors also showed positive contributions to net migration: forest area (C = 5278.538, P < 0.001) and agricultural lands (C = 344.233, P = 0.007). In contrast, CO2 emissions among the climatic variables had a negative effect on net migration (C = -0.483, P < 0.001). Conclusion Migration in the MENA region is driven by demographic, economic, political, and environmental factors. The youthful population and economic challenges fuel migration, while disparities in healthcare and economic conditions exacerbate these trends. Comprehensive policies are needed to address these interconnected challenges. By implementing such strategies, the region can reduce migration pressures and build more stable societies.
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spelling doaj-art-17c47f1712f14351bbc3e057a4c8d5932025-08-20T04:02:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-08-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-23627-xThe interplay of health, economy, and politics in MENA region migration patterns: a panel data analysis (2000–2020)Jalal Arabloo0Pirhossein Kolivand1Peyman Saberian2Peyman Namdar3Soheila Rajaie4Fereshte Karimi5Arash Parvari6Raziye Alishavandi7Ahad Bakhtiari8Samad Azari9Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Economics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Metabolic Disease Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Emergency and Disaster Resilience, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of IranResearch Center for Emergency and Disaster Resilience, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Emergency and Disaster Resilience, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of IranHealth Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)Hospital Management Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background The MENA region experiences a high migration rate. Migration has a profound effect on the demography, health status, labor market and cultural diversity of the region. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the migration crisis in MENA region. Method This study was conducted with the panel data method in 2023. The data of 20 countries of MENA region were collected from 2000 to 2020. Information of 16 variables were grouped into 5 categories: health, demographic, economic, climatic, and political. FGLS model was used to determine the impact of different variables on the migration in Mena region. Excel 2019 and Stata 13 software were used. Results The model utilized fixed effects while addressing cross-sectional dependence, variance heteroscedasticity, and serial correlation, employing the FGLS method for estimation. Within the health variables, the mortality rate had a positive and significant impact on net migration (C = 1132.915, P < 0.001). Conversely, several health-related factors exhibited negative significant effects: Out-Of-Pocket expenses (C = -1797.265, P < 0.001), Current Health Expenditure (C = -9137.099, P < 0.001), and the mortality rate from communicable diseases (C = -96.206, P < 0.001). From an economic standpoint, both GDP per capita (C = 0.001, P = 0.02) and inflation (C = 4638.81, P < 0.001) were identified as having significant positive effects on migration. In terms of demographics, the total population variable also demonstrated a positive significant effect (C = 0.001, P < 0.001). Additionally, political factors such as Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) related to conflict and terrorism positively influenced migration (C = 31.991, P < 0.001). Two climatic factors also showed positive contributions to net migration: forest area (C = 5278.538, P < 0.001) and agricultural lands (C = 344.233, P = 0.007). In contrast, CO2 emissions among the climatic variables had a negative effect on net migration (C = -0.483, P < 0.001). Conclusion Migration in the MENA region is driven by demographic, economic, political, and environmental factors. The youthful population and economic challenges fuel migration, while disparities in healthcare and economic conditions exacerbate these trends. Comprehensive policies are needed to address these interconnected challenges. By implementing such strategies, the region can reduce migration pressures and build more stable societies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23627-xMigrationMENA regionPanel dataRegression
spellingShingle Jalal Arabloo
Pirhossein Kolivand
Peyman Saberian
Peyman Namdar
Soheila Rajaie
Fereshte Karimi
Arash Parvari
Raziye Alishavandi
Ahad Bakhtiari
Samad Azari
The interplay of health, economy, and politics in MENA region migration patterns: a panel data analysis (2000–2020)
BMC Public Health
Migration
MENA region
Panel data
Regression
title The interplay of health, economy, and politics in MENA region migration patterns: a panel data analysis (2000–2020)
title_full The interplay of health, economy, and politics in MENA region migration patterns: a panel data analysis (2000–2020)
title_fullStr The interplay of health, economy, and politics in MENA region migration patterns: a panel data analysis (2000–2020)
title_full_unstemmed The interplay of health, economy, and politics in MENA region migration patterns: a panel data analysis (2000–2020)
title_short The interplay of health, economy, and politics in MENA region migration patterns: a panel data analysis (2000–2020)
title_sort interplay of health economy and politics in mena region migration patterns a panel data analysis 2000 2020
topic Migration
MENA region
Panel data
Regression
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23627-x
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