One might reasonably assume that voluntary migration generally enhances the well-being of the migrant, particularly when moving to a wealthier country. But it is far from obvious that migration (even when voluntary) makes migrants happier. The risk of negative subjective outcomes is perhaps greatest when moving to a wealthier country: research on happiness finds that money matters for happiness mainly via signalling of relative position, and migrants often move from a middling relative position in the origin country to a lower relative position in the destination country.
This paper investigates that proposition via analysis of data from the European Social Survey, comparing migrants and stayers in the countries the migrants left and attempting to determine whether any differences represent changes for the migrants. For migrants moving from eastern to western Europe, there is no apparent increase in happiness; looking within emigration streams one finds an increase for some (e.g. Russians and Turks) and a decrease for others (e.g. Poles and Slovaks). For migrants moving from north to south (thus from wealthier to poorer countries), one finds a general decrease in happiness.
International migration, then, seems to carry risks of unfulfilled or even negative consequences for subjective well-being. That finding, however, cannot reasonably be used as support for efforts to make the choice itself more difficult/restricted.
Presented by:
David Bartram (University of Leicester)
Date & time:
February 9, 2015 4:00 pm - February 9, 2015 5:30 pm
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