Desire to migrate internationally and locally and the importance of satisfaction with amenities
10 April 2014 4:00 pm CEST
Miriam Manchin (with Robert Manchin and Sultan Orazbayev), University College London
In cooperation with:
Venue
wiiw, Rahlgasse 3, 1060 Vienna, lecture hall (entrance from the ground floor)
Description
Using a large survey spanning several years and many countries, this paper looks at the determinants of the desire to migrate internationally and domestically. In particular, we empirically analyse the importance of satisfaction with local and country-level amenities in driving migration decisions both for international and domestic migration. In addition, we also investigate the importance of social networks both at the individual’s current location and abroad. We find that satisfaction with local amenities together with social networks are the most important driving forces of both domestic and international migration intensions. We also find that when looking at labour market characteristics in terms of average wages and unemployment rates at regional and national level, it is the individual perception of personal job prospects, personal income, and contentment with local amenities which matters more than average labour market conditions.
Keywords: international and local migration, desire to migrate
JEL classification: F22