The Land of Milk and Honey?: Young Croatians’ Identities and Perceptions as Drivers of Migration Desire

Abstract

Taking up the Croatian case and the gap in the literature concerning non-economic, micro-level drivers of migration, this article explores young peoples’ identity, and the perceptions of their country and the European Union. Survey data is analysed by means of hierarchical linear regression, aiming to answer the question to what extent the selected non-economic variables play a role in youth migration desire. Overall, the results show that these drivers do play a certain role. While perception of the EU seems to be irrelevant for young people’s migration desire, perception of Croatia is associated with it. Likewise, a stronger national identity acts as an inhibiting force. When comparing the EU and Croatia, young people do not demonstrate a defined vision of the EU, seeing it as a place where almost everything is better. In contrast, their opinion on Croatia is more nuanced, which makes variables connected to their local context more relevant.