Migration, life satisfaction, return and development: the case of a deprived post-Soviet country (Ukraine)

Abstract

This article explores the nexus between life (dis)satisfaction, migration aspirations and return and development within the context of a previously relatively developed but in the meantime deprived post-Soviet country, Ukraine. It is based on a mixed method quantitative and qualitative study conducted from 2010 to 2013. Three key findings have been emerging. First, life dissatisfaction significantly contributes to the emergence of migration aspirations and thus is an important driver of migration. This points to a correlation between the state of development of a country, according life (dis)satisfaction of its populations' and their propensity to migrate. Second, the study suggests that the better educated have stronger intentions to migrate abroad; this trend rather undermines the country's capability to develop further. And third, our findings suggest that (a) expected dissatisfaction with life in Ukraine upon return undermines migrants' aspirations to return or to stay and instead inspires remigration and (b) that those who return have little incentive to invest skills and capital and thereby contribute to the country's development. This raises various policy concerns for so far absent diaspora politics or reintegration measures which we will discuss.

Returning to the country of origin in later life: Longitudinal evidence from the German Socio‐Economic Panel

“…The literature on return migration and well‐being (Fuchs‐Schündeln & Schündeln, ; Lapshyna & Düvell, ; Mara & Landesmann, ) suggests that the intention to stay permanently, to move to another country, or to return to the country of origin is strongly influenced by migrants’ assessment of their life (life satisfaction). Nevertheless, these studies focus mainly on working‐age individuals, whereas little attention has so far been given to the impact of well‐being on the decision‐making process of ageing migrants.…”

“…Life satisfaction is related to how individuals appraise their life as a whole and it reflects the outcome of the migrants’ efforts to achieve a better life by the process of moving to another country, by staying abroad or by returning to the country of origin. Existing literature shows that migration decisions (both emigration and return) are not driven only by economic conditions, but also by the level of life (dis)satisfaction (Lapshyna & Düvell, ; Mara & Landesmann, ).…”

Mobbing and corporate social responsibility: does the status of the organisation guarantee employee wellbeing and intentions to stay in the job?

“…Research shows that, on the one hand, job insecurity promotes the appreciation of one's workplace (Reiter, 2010) and on the other hand, the search for better conditions is negatively associated with staying in the same job for a longer period of time (Mussagulova et al, 2019). Besides, it is also observed that even people with higher levels of education, who have encountered difficulties, tend to emigrate to other countries not only from the post-Soviet space (Groutsis et al, 2020;Lapshyna & Düvell, 2015;White, 2016).…”

Empirical study of the comfort of living and working environment – Ukraine and Europe: comparative assessment

“…For instance, a study analysing migration trends in the United States (Castles, S., 2004) the author stresses the importance of political stability, respect for rights, development of civil society institutions in shaping migration trends. ese and some other factors of discomfort and life dissatisfaction grounded as a factors of emigration in researches considering the problem of migration in Central and Eastern Europe (Otrachshenko, V., Popova, O., 2013) and deprived post-Soviet countries (Lapshyna I., Düvell F., 2015).…”