Acta Universitatis Danubius. Relationes Internationales, Vol 8, No 2 (2015)

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of international migration of the Albanian university graduates. The evidence is drawn from a new survey designed to study the micro and macro-economic determinants of the brain drain. The sample consists of 1210 last year students of 14 public and private universities in 8 major cities of Albania. The survey asked detailed questions on intentions to migrate and return on a range of different push and pull factors and their importance. These factors include individual and family characteristics, migration experiences and networks, destination countries, as well as aims, incentives and barriers to international migration at the micro and macro level. Using these data, the probability of international migration of the most educated individuals in our country was estimated and the main characteristics that predict migration were examined.

The findings of the paper indicate that migration for any purpose (study, migrate or live abroad) decreases with age, being a female, and belonging to the Muslim religion, which was included in the model as a control for social capital. Other positive and significant control variables for the social capital include encouragement by other persons, such as their professors, or friends and relatives abroad who can help them in case they decide to migrate. The probability of migration of the top students is significantly higher, and that of students from higher income families too. Our results also indicate a strong positive association between the macroeconomic and political situation and the probability to migrate. The results are robust to model specification, and differ slightly, on the expected direction, with regards to the different purposes of migration. The paper contributes to the academic debate on students’ migration and brain drain in Albania by drawing on new data and providing evidence-based results. In addition, it estimates the effects of the key push factors at the micro, meso and macro levels which may assist and lead the policymakers towards more accurate decisions.