Student youth of Arctic cities about the reasons for migration outflow

Abstract

The population decline in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the AZ RF) currently remains an urgent problem for the strategic development of these territories. Modern studies of the determination of migration do not reflect the complexity of the decision to migrate, made in the broad socio-economic context of young people’s ideas about the Arctic cities, which are the main places of permanent residence and education. In this connection, the purpose of the study was to clarify the public opinion of young people about the reasons for outgoing migration of young people to the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and to identify ideas about the Arctic city, under the influence of which either readiness to migrate or to settle in the territory is formed. The subject of the study is the public opinion of students about the reasons for migration and their ideas about Arctic cities, explaining the migration outflow. The research method used was focus groups with students studying in higher and secondary vocational education programs in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Segezha, followed by content analysis of focus group transcripts. The results obtained reflect the characteristics of Arctic cities identified by respondents that encourage migration and deter it. Among the characteristics that stimulate migration, such characteristics of cities as “industrial”, “dependent” and “unattractive” are noted. Migration is deterred by such advantages of Arctic cities as “economically significant”, “safe”, “smaller” and “habitual”. It was noted that focus group participants are in the stage of self-determination and therefore they are characterized by both the perception of their current places of residence as “native” and “habitual”, and the desire to separate and migrate, “trying on” the opportunity to leave.