Mechanical movements of the population in the form of migrations constantly accompanied the development of mankind. In this regard, scientists at different times were interested in the reasons that can cause migration waves and, accordingly, ways to manage this phenomenon at the state level. This article is devoted to the study of basic scientific approaches and economic theories on the selection of factors that cause migration in general and labor migration in particular. To accomplish the task, the author analyzes the main generally accepted economic theories, in particular: mercantilism, classical economic theory, marxism, neoclassical theory, keynesianism, monetarism and more. In addition, the selection of factors that provoke migration in the theories of socio-economic orientation as a theory of human capital and social networks, structural-historical approach was considered. The next step the author explored a more specific economic direction - migration theories (classical theory of E. Ravenstein, the theory of pull-push factors E. Lee, a new economic theory of labor migration, dual theory of labor market, the theory of relative differences, the theory of world systems, the concept of mobile transition , synthetic theory of international migration, etc.). Based on the theoretical analysis, it can be argued that the factors that cause migration can be classified on various grounds. The most characteristic of these are the selection of objective and subjective reasons; controlled, partially and uncontrolled; micro-, macro-level; social and natural nature; economic, social, political, ethnic, psychological, pedagogical nature, etc. The conducted research makes a thorough theoretical basis for further work in this direction.

Keywords:

migration, labor migration, migration factors, economic theories, socio-economic theories, migration theories.