Why Researchers Move: Social Capital and Driving Forces of Academic Mobility in Italy[Pourquoi les chercheures se déplacent : social capital et les forces motrices de la mobilité académique en Italie]

Academic mobility involves the movement of high-skilled individuals, leading to a redistribution of human capital that significantly influences regional economic development. Mobility shapes research productivity, institutional quality, and knowledge circulation, yet it may also contribute to the phenomenon of brain drain, potentially hindering regional growth. Understanding the drivers behind scientists' decisions to move is critical for addressing regional disparities and evaluating the impact of mobility on local institutional quality and economic performance. While extensive literature has explored the outcomes of academic mobility on research output and career progression (Wu et al., 2024; Seeber et al., 2023), fewer studies explicitly focus on the determinants—particularly push and pull factors—that shape these migratory decisions. This study aims to fill this research gap by examining the determinants influencing the mobility of university researchers across Italian universities over the period 2000–2024. It investigates individual factors such as gender, age, and academic role; institutional factors including research quality, reputation, and university size; and environmental factors, specifically local amenities, institutional quality, and social capital. The analysis also compares how these determinants differ across academic disciplines. Particular emphasis is placed on social capital and its role in migratory decisions, examining its potential to reduce regional disparities by enhancing knowledge circulation and professional networks. Previous research provides extensive insights into the impacts of academic mobility. Abramo et al. (2022) identify discipline-specific and demographic-dependent effects on research productivity. Momeni et al. (2022) similarly observe positive correlations between mobility, research output, and citation rates, highlighting international collaboration benefits. Conversely, focusing on the particular case of Flemish universities, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, Seeber et al. (2023) note that mobile and foreign academics encounter lower promotion prospects due to institutional barriers, language issues, and turnover dynamics. Additionally, Wu et al. (2024) suggest that productivity gains largely result from career advancements rather than from mobility itself. Concerning the determinants of mobility, existing research highlights diverse push and pull factors. Bernela et al. (2018) emphasize the roles of regional size, local collaborations, and spatial and scientific proximity in driving doctoral student mobility in French academia. Kim et al. (2020) explore the behaviour of foreign-born faculty members in U.S. universities. They examine whether demographic characteristics, professional experience, and university attributes predict faculty mobility but find no significant relationships. Momeni et al. (2022) identify significant gender disparities in mobility, emphasizing interactions between gen- der, career stage, and institutional contexts. In the Italian context, Checchi et al. (2021) examine the factors driving academic mobility, highlighting that career incentives, promotional opportunities, and competitive conditions—such as position availability, the number of potential competitors, and their geographic distri- bution—play a significant role in influencing mobility decisions. Barbieri et al. (2011) observe that career opportunities primarily drive professional relocations, noting distinct age-related mobility patterns: older academics tend to return to their birthplaces, whereas younger ones seek better professional prospects else- where. Zanardello (2023) introduces the concept of complementarity between knowledge and skills, which explains why prestigious universities with high-quality scholars attract similar talent. In Finland, Kallio et al. (2024) highlight internal factors (wages, autonomy, and institutional resources) and external factors (quality of life, family responsibilities, and financial considerations) influencing mobility decisions. Social capital also emerges as a critical intangible factor influencing mobility decisions. Kazlauskiene˙ and Rinkeviˇcius (2006) identify two dimensions—interpersonal networks and institutional arrangements such as bi-national or transnational agreements—that significantly drive highly skilled migration by accelerating international mobility. Similarly, D'Ingiullo et al. (2023) reveal how lower-educated individuals rely heavily on social networks, while highly educated individuals prioritize career advancement and financial incentives. Qualitative research by Bauder (2020) with academics in Canada and Germany further confirms the signifi- cance of social capital in fostering international mobility, establishing professional connections, and creating career opportunities. This study expands on existing literature by analyzing the role of social capital among other push and pull factors shaping academic mobility decisions across Italian universities from 2000 to 2024. It compares how these determinants vary across research fields, highlights social capital's potential in mitigating regional disparities, and explores emerging mobility trends influenced by the post-financial crisis and post-pandemic contexts.