The Effects of Globalization on Regional Migration in Italy

In recent years there has been a considerable influx of better-educated migrants from the South to the North of Italy. Responding to the need of more research on this rapidly growing ‘new’ migrant group in Italy, this study examines how globalisation impacts upon the composition of regional migration in terms of age, and education. We find that globalisation significantly affects migration flows (number of migrants attracted by the region of destination) for both better and less-educated workers. More precisely, it affects better-educated workers’ migration to a higher extent than that of less educated workers. In addition, better-educated workers’ migration is negatively affected by unemployment rate differentials (the difference in unemployment between destination and origin regions), whereas less-educated workers’ migration is negatively affected by house prices differentials (the difference of house price between destination and origin regions). A higher presence of foreign immigrants in the region of destination reduces migration flows for both better and less educated workers. Regarding the age variable, we find very similar results for young and old workers’ migration. When focusing on migration flows from the South to the North of Italy, globalisation and foreign immigration have a role for both better and lower-educated migrants. Unemployment rate differentials particularly matter for less educated and younger migrants.