The Global Mobility Research Group had an inspiring presentation by Fanni Beck PhD Student on 1 December 2025. , reframing how we understand migration, success, and the search for a “good life.”

Fanni’s presentation, Periphery Dreams: Migration, Parenting, and Politics, explored the emerging phenomenon she terms “value-rational migration.”

A particularly striking aspect of the presentation was how this mobility trend intersects with evolving parenting cultures in China. Drawing on the classical story of Mencius’ mother moving houses three times to secure a better environment, she illustrated how today’s parents navigate between “tiger mother” and “Buddha mother” models, balancing ambition with wellbeing. The lingering social effects of the one-child policy continue to shape family expectations, emotional burdens, and societal pressures, making these decisions even more consequential.

Fanni’s research, published in top journals such as the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Global Networks, and China Quarterly, offers a nuanced lens on how mobility, family life, and political imaginaries are transforming. As a Junior Fellow at the Corvinus Institute for Advanced Studies, she continues to bring sharp, thoughtful perspectives to global migration scholarship.