The Causes and Consequences of Reverse Migration to Rural Communities in Iran: A Meta Synthesis Approach

A B S T R A C T
Rural communities and peri-urban areas in Iran have been experiencing a new phenomenon of reverse migration in recent years. In the last few years, some researchers have focused on migrants' motives and the causes and consequences of this phenomenon. This research aims to identify the causes and consequences of reverse migration to rural communities in Iran through a synthesis-based approach. The unit of analysis in this study consists of Persian-language research articles with domestic case studies found in databases such as Noormags, Magiran, SID, ISC, Google Scholar, Civilica, the Comprehensive Human Sciences Portal, and Elmnet, covering the period from 2011 to 2024.  By searching the above databases, 61 articles were found. They were reviewed using the Critical Assessment Skills Program (CASP) and eventually reduced to 35 articles. The selected articles were analyzed using Sandlowski and Barroso's seven-step model. The findings show that 7 components and 32 concepts were effective in shaping reverse migration, the most important of which were employment status and income. The consequences of reverse migration are also classified into 7 components and 27 concepts, with the creation of jobs and income and the Importing of different facilities to the villages, entrepreneurial growth, and economic development among the most important consequences of this phenomenon. Researchers, planners, and managers can potentially utilize the findings to improve their understanding and planning of the phenomenon.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The phenomenon of reverse migration (population movement from urban to rural areas) has gained attention in recent years in many societies, including Iran, for various reasons such as lifestyle changes, infrastructure development in rural areas, and increased awareness of healthy living. In the past, migration from rural to urban areas was a prevalent trend, but in some regions, the trend is now reversed. This phenomenon is significant not only for the migrants but also for society and the economy. Rural areas are popular destinations for people because they want to escape city noise and pollution and have access to clean air and pristine nature. Rural infrastructure development, changes in lifestyle, and perspectives on work and income are other factors that contribute to this migration. The significant shift in migration patterns leads to new opportunities and diverse economic, social, cultural, and environmental consequences. Some Iranian researchers are paying attention to the recognition of reverse migration as a new socio-economic phenomenon and its causes and consequences. The primary purpose of this article is to identify the reasons and effects of reverse migration in rural communities in Iran by employing the meta-synthesis approach.
 
Methodology
The purpose of this research is applied, while the methodology is descriptive-analytical. The data required was collected using documentary and library methods. The research objective was achieved through the meta-synthesis method, a powerful technique for combining the results of multiple studies and allowing researchers to gain a comprehensive view of the subject under study. The unit of analysis in this research comprises Persian-language scientific research articles with domestic case studies published in databases such as Noormags, Magiran, SID, ISC, Google Scholar, the Comprehensive Human Sciences Portal, and ElmNet during the period 1390-1403 (2011-2024). At first, 61 articles were discovered, but after several reviews and the use of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), 26 articles were eliminated, leading to the selection of 35 articles that were most relevant to the research topic. Sandelowski and Barroso's seven-step method was employed to analyze these articles.
 
Results and discussion
Rural attraction and urban repulsion factors have a significant impact on reverse migration in Iran. Given the significance of the subject and the occurrence of this phenomenon in Iran, as well as the availability of adequate research in this field, Analyzing the content of these studies through the meta-synthesis method is necessary to identify the causes and consequences of this phenomenon, identify knowledge gaps, develop theoretical knowledge, and help with policy-making and intervention planning. The causes and consequences of this phenomenon in Iran were analyzed by evaluating 35 selected articles. The findings indicate that reverse migration to rural areas is influenced by seven components (environmental-natural, social, cultural, economic, psychological, physical, and political), and 32 concepts, as well as six components (environmental-natural, social, cultural, economic, psychological, and physical) and 27 concepts related to their consequences, were identified. Among the factors influencing the occurrence of reverse migration in Iran, job status, capital and income level, housing prices, living costs, climate conditions, pollution levels, and kinship relations were most emphasized by Iranian researchers. Additionally, among the consequences of reverse migration, job creation, and income generation, the influx of various facilities in rural areas, entrepreneurship, growth, rural economic development, land-use change, rural reconstruction, and population distribution and balance were highlighted. Overall, the findings of Iranian researchers in this field align with the results of similar foreign studies in some cases. According to researchers like Silvie and Shaw (2011), Stockdale and Catney (2014), Stark (2018), Kotzé and Bosman (2020), Anwar et al. (2021), and Desmond et al. (2024), reverse migration occurs nationally and internationally, mostly for broad economic and social goals. In developed countries, reverse migration can provide opportunities to strengthen investment and economic growth in rural areas facing population decline. Reverse migration in foreign countries often happens due to limited access to resources and facilities, family ties and social networks, economic opportunities, investment, and employment, with consequences including economic growth, innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategies for broader population and economic development and balance. However, reverse migration in Iran is driven by job opportunities, affordable housing, suitable and clean weather in rural areas, and escaping the problems of urban life.
 
Conclusion
In recent years, reverse migration has attracted the attention of many countries, including Iran, and various studies have been conducted using different methods to investigate the causes and consequences of this phenomenon in different dimensions. Through the meta-synthesis of these studies, we obtained a comprehensive and coherent picture of the state of reverse migration in Iran. The causes and consequences of this phenomenon were analyzed by reviewing 35 selected articles. According to the findings, reverse migration in Iran is mostly due to economic factors, and it has been successful in creating job opportunities, increasing income, and encouraging entrepreneurship in rural communities. It has also led to land-use change and rural reconstruction and contributed to population distribution and balance. The results of this research are valuable for decision-making at various levels, including policy-making, planning, and individual decision-making, and can also be used by researchers in future studies. Given that this research only focused on domestic studies, it is recommended that a comparative analysis of the causes and consequences of reverse migration with an analysis of foreign studies be conducted. Furthermore, topics such as the role of modern technology, the impact of climate change on reverse migration, examining reverse migration patterns in different regions of Iran, future foresight of this subject, and its impact on sustainable rural development should be considered by Iranian researchers. By combining the results of various studies (domestic and foreign), more comprehensive theoretical models can be developed to explain better and interpret the phenomenon of reverse migration, predict future trends, and plan accordingly.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
The authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.