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Migration, social stratification and dynamic effects on subjective well being
Marcel Erlinghagen1, Christoph Kern2, Petra Stein3
1Institute of Sociology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstr. 63, 47057, Duisburg, Germany.
Advances in Life Course Research
|January 25, 2023
Summary
Internal migration in Germany significantly boosts subjective well-being (SWB) long-term, with no anticipated changes before moving. This positive effect is widespread across most demographic groups.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Economics
- Psychology
Background:
- Migration is a significant life event with potential impacts on individual well-being.
- Understanding the dynamics of subjective well-being (SWB) before, during, and after migration is crucial for policy and individual decision-making.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results on the relationship between migration and SWB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anticipation and adaptation of subjective well-being (SWB) associated with internal migration in Germany.
- To determine if SWB changes occur before migration and how they evolve post-migration.
- To examine the social stratification of SWB changes related to migration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized German panel data to analyze internal relocation patterns.
- Employed fixed-effects regression models to assess changes in SWB.
- Controlled for migration distance, reasons for migration, personality traits, income changes, and home ownership transitions.
Main Results:
- No significant anticipation of SWB was observed before the migration event.
- A substantial and sustained positive adaptation effect on SWB was found post-migration.
- The positive impact of internal migration on SWB was consistent across nearly all socioeconomic and socio-demographic subgroups.
- Migration distance, reasons for migration, and personality traits did not significantly alter the observed SWB pattern.
- The positive effect of migration on SWB was minimally mediated by income changes and only partly by home ownership.
Conclusions:
- Internal migration in Germany leads to a lasting increase in subjective well-being.
- Regional mobility appears to be driven more by opportunities than by stressors.
- The observed improvements in SWB are largely independent of specific migration characteristics or individual traits, suggesting a robust positive outcome.
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