Reasons for migration in rural areas

In the last years, an interruption in the population trend in rural areas has taken place in Baden-Wuerttemberg. During the turn of the millennium, the rural areas benefited from migration from agglomerations but for some years now, reverse migration processes are recognized. Especially young people leave the rural area for educational purposes and their return in context of starting their own family and establishing their career is uncertain. If those migration processes are persistent, the demographic change in rural areas could accelerate substantially. Furthermore, changes in population movements within the rural area can be observed.

Against this background, the aim of the research project at hand is to examine empirically the migration patterns and the reasons for migration. Correspondent regression analyses are based especially on official data of the municipal level in Baden-Wuerttemberg. In addition, immigrated and emigrated households of selected rural communities in Baden-Wuerttemberg are questioned about their reasons for movement and their satisfaction with the respective municipal conditions for living.

Final Report (in German)