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A Living Worth Leaving? Economic Incentives and Migration Flows: The Case of Czechoslovak Labour Migration

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  • Wadim Strielkowski

Abstract

Migration studies cannot explain a paradox why migrations from regions or countries with lower economic performance to regions or countries with higher economic performance remain low even though the economic incentives of emigration are high. This gives EU stakeholders solid reasons for building serious administrative barriers and introducing "transition periods" for free movement of labour from EU-8. It is generally believed that removing barriers would cause mass labour migration. However, it might be that the problem lies elsewhere and labour migration might remain low with or without barriers. This paper analyses the pattern of Czechoslovak migrations in 1993-2004. After the split-up of Czechoslovak Federation citizens of both countries could reside and work in another country without any restrictions. This was even more simplified by the common cultural background and unique language proximity. Although the Slovak Republic was generally less successful in its economic growth than the Czech Republic, the analysis of the model of Czechoslovak migrations specified in this paper does not leed to the conclusion that economic differences between the two countries influence migration between Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It might be that economic disparities might influence migration however it happens only after they reach some critical level.

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  • Wadim Strielkowski, 2007. "A Living Worth Leaving? Economic Incentives and Migration Flows: The Case of Czechoslovak Labour Migration," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2007(3), pages 252-264.
    • Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:2007:y:2007:i:3:id:308:p:252-264
    DOI: 10.18267/j.pep.308
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    Cited by:

    1. Wadim Strielkowski & Jan Hněvkovský, 2013. "The Performance Of The Czech Labour Market After The 2004 Eu Enlargement," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 58(197), pages 79-94, April – J.
    2. Wadim Strielkowski & Petr Filipec & Miroslav Štefánik & Karolina Kowalska, 2013. "Outward Labour Migration in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia after the EU Enlargement in 2004," Czech Economic Review, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, vol. 7(1), pages 042-054, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    transition economies; EU enlargement; migration; labour mobility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C20 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - General
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • P3 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions

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