%D 2024
%L theses_frw4609
%A Ciara McFadden
%X Research on internal migration in Ireland has been neglected which is largely due to a focus on the high levels of emigration. This research adds to this gap by firstly investigating the determinants of internal migration in Ireland in 2002 and 2011 using census data provided by IPUMS. Secondly, the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique is utilised to explore how these determinants have changed over time and during the Great Recession. The parameters are broken down into composition and behavioural effects, including the percentage contribution of each variable to the total change in the internal migration rate.

The findings indicate that determinants of internal migration changed between 2002 and 2011. Notably, homeowners and unemployed individuals became less likely to have internally migrated in the previous year during the Great Recession. This supports the idea that certain individuals become more risk averse during times of economic uncertainty. Despite this, the aggregate internal migration rate increased marginally from 2 to 2.1 percent. However, the results from the decomposition indicate this was driven by changes in the composition of the population, namely more people obtaining third level education and a decline in the number of homeowners. In fact, an underlying trend of reduced migration propensity was
identified in Ireland, consistent with patterns observed in other countries. Absent other effects, changes in the internal migration behaviour would have reduced the internal migration further. Overall, the results highlight how migration behaviour is dynamic, changes over time and is context dependent.
%T Decomposing internal migration rates in Ireland from 2002 to 2011