@article {869, title = {Reflections on the Emigration Aspirations of Young, Educated People in Small Balkan Countries: A Qualitative Analysis of Reasons to Leave or Stay in North Macedonia}, journal = {Central and Eastern European Migration Review}, volume = {11}, year = {2022}, pages = {65-84}, chapter = {65}, abstract = {

For small, low-to-middle-income countries such as North Macedonia, the prospect of young, educated people leaving their place of residence (i.e. emigrating) can have significant negative societal-level effects. Understanding the complexity of the brain-drain phenomenon and its antecedents is critical to developing multi-level (i.e. global, societal and individual) strategic solutions. A qualitative analysis of several focus-group interviews was used to understand young, educated residents\’ reasons either for emigrating or for remaining in North Macedonia. Two overarching themes served to organise the participant-identified drivers for emigration and those opposed to it. Three sub-themes emerged describing the factors for emigration: 1) a lack of professional opportunities, 2) institutional systems, and 3) cultural tightness. Likewise, three sub-themes emerged describing the factors for staying: 1) community, 2) culture and 3) social responsibility. Insights serve to contextualise some of the experiences of young, educated people in small, low-to-middle-income, countries which impact on their emigration decisions.

}, keywords = {Balkans, brain drain, emigration-decision conflict, migration aspirations, North Macedonia}, issn = {2300-1682}, doi = {10.54667/ceemr.2022.07}, author = {Parker, Kimberly A and Hester, Erin B and Geegan, Sarah A and Ciunova-Shuleska, Anita and Palamidovska-Sterjadovska, Nikolina and Ivanov, Bobi} }