High-Skilled Female Migration and Gender Equality

Radvile BANKAUSKAITE

Master's thesis

Study of migration of highly educated women from Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract:

This study aims to shed more light on the gendered dimension of international migration of the highly skilled by analysing migration of highly educated women from Central Eastern European countries that joined EU in 2004 and 2007. The study examines the effects of various conditions in destination countries that may affect migration flows of women, specifically focusing on gender inequality, expected income and existing migrant networks in destination countries. Gravity model for migration is used in the analysis. Gravity equations are derived using random utility maximization model and estimated with Poisson pseudo-likelihood estimator. The results of the study show that the effect of gender inequality on migration flows of highly educated women is closely connected to the effect of expected income. It is observed that highly educated women migrants tend to be more sensitive to gender inequality in high income countries, which may show that once the expectations regarding expected economic gain from migration are satisfied, gender inequality becomes important. However, the findings have to be considered with caution.

Abstract:

This study aims to shed more light on the gendered dimension of international migration of the highly skilled by analysing migration of highly educated women from Central Eastern European countries that joined EU in 2004 and 2007. The study examines the effects of various conditions in destination countries that may affect migration flows of women, specifically focusing on gender inequality, expected income and existing migrant networks in destination countries. Gravity model for migration is used in the analysis. Gravity equations are derived using random utility maximization model and estimated with Poisson pseudo-likelihood estimator. The results of the study show that the effect of gender inequality on migration flows of highly educated women is closely connected to the effect of expected income. It is observed that highly educated women migrants tend to be more sensitive to gender inequality in high income countries, which may show that once the expectations regarding expected economic gain from migration are satisfied, gender inequality becomes important. However, the findings have to be considered with caution.

Keywords

female migration, CEE region, highly skilled migration, gender equality

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 8. 6. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: prof. Simone Bertoli

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Geography / International Development Studies