Socio-psychological dimensions of students migration: A pilot study

Abstract

[Abstract]: Albeit positive outcomes for migrants and their destination countries, there is a growing body of research claiming that migration of young skilled workforce has a significant impact on the structure of domestic labor market and productivity output of the country of origin. In this context, a significant number of researchers have focused on identifying and analyzing the determinants of labor migration. Exploring the available scientific literature, one could notice a gradual change in the interests of researchers from economic, financial and material determinants to socio-cognitive or socio-psychological factors that influence the migration decisions of individuals. Moreover, several studies have highlighted the role of education in the migration process claiming that individuals with a higher level of education tend to migrate as a consequence of an elaborate decision-making process in which sociopsychological factors play an important part. On the other hand, there is no consensus among scholars on which are the most important socio-psychological determinants or on how these factors effectively impact the intention of individuals to emigrate. In addition, there are insufficient studies and results focusing on the reasons and socio-psychological incentives which are influential on the intention to migrate of young people, in general, and Romanian young people, in particular.