Development and causes of migration in lagging regions in the years 2017–2021: a case study of the Slovak Republic

Abstract

Migration represents a process where people leave their homes for various reasons. The aim of the article is to evaluate the level and development of migration in Slovakia and to identify its causes in the Gemer region, which is among the least economically productive regions of Slovakia. We quantified the development and level of migration based on secondary data through selected analytical indicators of migration. We determined the motivations of the residents of the Gemer region to migrate using a questionnaire survey. Until 2004, Slovakia was an emigration country, but in recent years it has turned into a destination country. However, the situation is not the same for all regions of the country. A negative migration balance persists in the Gemer region, although restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic have slowed this trend. We found that up to 21 % of respondents from the region migrate for work. Up to 45 % of respondents want to move out of the region, while in 64 % of cases the migration is motivated by economic reasons. The opinion on migration is influenced by the gender of the respondent but is not related to the level of education achieved.