Original scientific paper
Quality of Life Perception and Intentions to Leave Rural Areas
Đurđica ŽUTINIĆ
orcid.org/0009-0003-1127-9465
; Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb
Damir KOVAČIĆ
; Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb
Ivo GRGIĆ
; Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb
Jerko MARKOVINA
; Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb
Abstract
This study reports the results of the survey conducted in
December 2006 and January 2007, on a sample of 941 rural
inhabitants, aged from 25 to 45. The focus of attention was the
perception of the quality of living standard in their communities
and intentions of staying or leaving the rural area. The goal of
the research was to determine the main reasons for leaving rural
areas and basic demographic characteristics of potential
migrants. Results show that 20% of respondents intend to leave
the rural area in the near future. The most common reason for
migration and the main push factor is unemployment as well as
the desire to improve living conditions for the family and the
solution to these problems is often perceived as something that
can be attained in the cities. Younger respondents with higher
level of education and respondents with no family and no
suitable living space are more likely to leave rural areas. There is
a statistically significant correlation between intention to stay or
leave the rural area and the ratings of the quality of institutional
and infrastructural conditions in the communities, conditions for
employment and interpersonal relations in the area. All these
conditions receive significantly lower ratings by rural inhabitants
who consider migrating.
Keywords
pre-migration attitudes; Croatian rural areas; quality of life
Hrčak ID:
52193
URI
Publication date:
1.5.2010.
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