Post-secondary-school migration of young people to large regional centres as a factor of depopulation and disharmonious regional development in Poland

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that the youth internal migrations are not, as is generally accepted, temporary, in order to obtain an education, but permanent in the final intention. Design/Methodology/Approach: The survey were carried in two different regions: one with a strong (large) regional center and the other with the weaker (smaller) center. In those region secondary education centers of various sizes were selected. There were conducted an auditorium survey among 2380 young people graduating from general secondary schools. The basis of the study was a survey containing several questions and determining five features related to background legal data. Findings: Education migrations "to study" become the beginning of the final emigration addressed to the metropolitan city as a large academic center. The research results also proved that the process of draining small regions centers by large regional centers leads to a deepening of differences in the development of regions, especially their capitals. Practical Implications: The results of analysis might be used in shaping an appropriate development policy. They may also indicate the need for more than proportional support for small regional capitals or - looking from a different perspective - to real processes of the territorial division of the country. Originality/Value: Research results can contribute to the construction of theoretical models regarding migration and local and regional development