The Probability of Economic Emigration in Kosovo

摘要

The aim of this paper is to specify and estimate a model of a household planning to send at least one or one additional member abroad because of dissatisfaction with the national economic situation. The plan to emigrate is considered to be based on a household's decision process whereby the household, as a whole, seeks to maximize expected future utility. The empirical analysis is based on a random sample of 1,384 Kosovan households stratified by area-namely, rural and urban-by region, and within regions by municipality. The findings suggest mixed support for the household approach. The majority of household characteristics are significant, but the significance of household income variables is mixed. No evidence is found for the "migration hump," and brain drain does not seem to be an issue. The probability of emigration from households is found to be influenced by relative wealth, type of area, and regional unemployment rates.