Territorial differences in migration patterns of the rural youth in post-Soviet Russia

Abstract

The article considers the features of post-Soviet migration of the rural youth in Russian regions based on the statistical data and interviews with rural school graduates, their parents and experts. The author used the age shift method to show a longterm increase in the migration outflow of the rural youth in the post-Soviet period - from 5% to more than 18% - for cohorts born in the late 20th century. The results of the study confirmed the low attractiveness of rural areas in most regions of Russia for living. The author identified eight types of regions based on the features of post-Soviet migration of the rural youth: only three types show a smaller outflow of the youth from rural areas; for each type, the ratio of push, pull and attracting factors for the rural youth is presented. Based on the field materials, the author describes a type of return migration which is quite rare for rural regions: the return of the youth is highest in the southern agrarian regions and in the national republics of the North Caucasus; its distribution in these regions is limited. Return migration of the youth to rural areas is described on the example of eight rural districts of Bashkortostan, Krasnodar Region, Dagestan and North Ossetia-Alania. In the national republics of the North Caucasus, the return of the youth to rural areas is influenced by the social factor and the low competitiveness of rural school graduates in urban labor markets, in the Krasnodar Region - by the large-scale settlement in rural areas and high barriers for the rural youth in cities (like high real estate prices).