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Why do they return? Beyond the economic drivers of graduate return migration

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  • Riccardo Crescenzi

    (London School of Economics)

  • Nancy Holman

    (London School of Economics)

  • Enrico Orru’

    (London School of Economics)

Abstract

This paper explores the factors that shape the location choices of formerly mobile graduates (FMGs) initially resident in Sardinia, Italy, a less developed European region. Combining qualitative and quantitative techniques, the paper examines the reasons why some individuals decide to return after their studies, the factors that shape their decisions and how these choices unfolded in space and time. It counters the literature, which suggests that migration is a one-off linear process driven only by wealth-maximising behaviour, positing rather that access to opportunities in open meritocratic job markets and circular migration trajectories are far more salient to FMGs. This suggests that policy makers should concentrate on promoting labour market opportunities and invest in social networks that will aid brain circulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Riccardo Crescenzi & Nancy Holman & Enrico Orru’, 2017. "Why do they return? Beyond the economic drivers of graduate return migration," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 59(3), pages 603-627, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:anresc:v:59:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s00168-016-0762-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s00168-016-0762-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Emil Israel & Nir Cohen & Daniel Czamanski, 2019. "Return on capital? Determinants of counter-migration among early career Israeli STEM researchers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(8), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Youngjin Woo & Min Jiang & Euijune Kim, 2021. "Analyzing return migration of high school graduates from lagging regions," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 309-319, December.
    3. Chantal Oggenfuss & Stefan C. Wolter, 2019. "Are they coming back? The mobility of university graduates in switzerland [Kehren sie Zurück? Die Mobilität von Hochschulabsolventinnen und -Absolventen in der Schweiz]," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 39(2), pages 189-208, October.
    4. Oğuzhan Okumuş, Mehmet, 2020. "How Berlin attracts the Turkish "New Wave": Comparison of economic and socio-cultural pull factors for highly skilled immigrants," IPE Working Papers 142/2020, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE).
    5. Martin Andersson & Hong Sok Kim & Janet Kohlhase, 2020. "Editorial Annals of Regional Science," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 64(1), pages 1-8, February.
    6. James, Amity & Rowley, Steven & Davies, Amanda & ViforJ, Rachel Ong & Singh, Ranjodh, 2021. "Population growth and mobility in Australia: implications for housing and urban development policies," SocArXiv zb5kc, Center for Open Science.
    7. Haining Jiang & Wenzhong Zhang & Jian Duan, 2020. "Location Choice of Overseas High-Level Young Returned Talents in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-16, November.
    8. Buchenrieder, Gertrud & Dufhues, Thomas & Möllers, Judith & Runschke, David & Sagyndykova, Galiya, 2020. "Return to the countryside: The return intentions of highly educated young people in the Akmola province of northern Kazakhstan," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 26(2), pages 1-14.
    9. Arthur Grimes & Shaan Badenhorst & David C. Maré & Jacques Poot, 2020. "Hometown wh?nau or big city millennials? The economic geography of graduate destination choices in New Zealand," Working Papers 20_04, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    10. Sarah Jewell & Pantelis Kazakis, 2021. "Migration patterns and job satisfaction: evidence from European doctorate holders," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 66(2), pages 359-407, April.
    11. Arthur Grimes & Shaan Badenhorst & David C. Maré & Jacques Poot & Isabelle Sin, 2023. "Quality of life, quality of business, and destinations of recent graduates: fields of study matter," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 70(1), pages 55-80, February.
    12. Yilin Zhao & Feng He & Ying Feng, 2022. "Research on the Industrial Structure Upgrading Effect of the Employment Mobility of Graduates from China’s “Double First-Class” Colleges and Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    13. María Gutiérrez-Portilla & Adolfo Maza & María Hierro, 2018. "Foreigners versus natives in Spain: different migration patterns? Any changes in the aftermath of the crisis?," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 61(1), pages 139-159, July.
    14. Youngjin Woo & Euijune Kim, 2020. "Analyzing Determining Factors of Young Graduates’ Decision to Stay in Lagged Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-10, April.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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