Abstract
This study investigates the migration intentions of current and future knowledge-workers in Saxony, Germany. A structural equation model (SEM) is applied to analyze the impact of social networks and norms on inter-regional migration, in addition to lifestyle and utilitarian location factors. The dataset comprises 2731 young knowledge-workers. The results show that: (i) migration intentions positively associate with social networks in other cities, subjective norms that West- is better than East-Germany, and that other regions provide better life opportunities; (ii) staying intentions positively relate to having origins, close friends and family in Saxony, and positive consideration of Saxony as an option by the parents; (iii) the structure of the social networks and norms is related to socio-economic characteristics, travel habits, and on-line social networks.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 61-69 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Cities |
| Volume | 55 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jun 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The study was conducted during the stay of the first author as an “Eleonore-Trefftz” Guest Professor in Faculty of Traffic Sciences, TU Dresden, as part of the TU-Dresden Excellence program, supported by the German Research Foundation .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords
- Brain drain
- Knowledge-workers
- Migration
- Social networks
- Structural equation models