Reflections on the Emigration Aspirations of Young, Educated People in Small Balkan Countries: A Qualitative Analysis of Reasons to Leave or Stay in North Macedonia

• Authors: Kimberly A. Parker , Erin B. Hester , Sarah A. Geegan , Anita Ciunova-Shuleska , Nikolina Palamidovska-Sterjadovska , Bobi Ivanov

Abstracts

EN

For small, low-to-middle-income countries such as North Macedonia, the prospect of young, educated people leaving their place of residence (i.e. emigrating) can have significant negative societal-level effects. Understanding the complexity of the brain-drain phenomenon and its antecedents is critical to developing multi-level (i.e. global, societal and individual) strategic solutions. A qualitative analysis of several focus-group interviews was used to understand young, educated residents’ reasons either for emigrating or for remaining in North Macedonia. Two overarching themes served to organise the participant-identified drivers for emigration and those opposed to it. Three sub-themes emerged describing the factors for emigration: 1) a lack of professional opportunities, 2) institutional systems, and 3) cultural tightness. Likewise, three sub-themes emerged describing the factors for staying: 1) community, 2) culture and 3) social responsibility. Insights serve to contextualise some of the experiences of young, educated people in small, low-to-middle-income, countries which impact on their emigration decisions.

Keywords

EN

North Macedonia; Balkans; migration aspirations; emigration-decision conflict; brain drain

• Publisher: Ośrodek Badań nad Migracjami Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego oraz Polska Akademia Nauk
• Journal: Central and Eastern European Migration Review
• Year: 2022
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 65-84

Dates

published

2022

Contributors

author

Kimberly A. Parker

author

Erin B. Hester

author

Sarah A. Geegan

author

Anita Ciunova-Shuleska

author

Nikolina Palamidovska-Sterjadovska

author

Bobi Ivanov

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Identifiers

DOI

10.54667/ceemr.2022.07

Biblioteka Nauki

2080393