Factors of Interregional Migration in Russia Disaggregated by Age

This paper examines the factors of interregional migration in Russia for people of different ages. Basing on 2010 census data, we estimate negative binomial regression models for total migration flows and migration flows disaggregated by age with socio-economic, demographic, geographical factors of the regions of departure and arrival. The analysis showed that only two flows: migrants of economically active age and families react correctly (from an economic point of view) to the variables of the labor market, incomes, the economic situation of the regions of departure and arrival, and housing indicators. Pensioners tend to minimize the costs of living, moving to poorer regions with high unemployment, where the cost of living is cheaper, and to regions with a favorable climate, thus saving on housing maintenance and having opportunity for subsistence farming. Students and young people are rational in their relocation in a different way, they are motivated by the possibility of building up human capital and opportunities for starting a career, while other factors are insignificant for them. The study also confirmed the hypothesis that in Russia, as in other countries, migrant flows of different ages move in opposite directions.