The Ecological Component in the System of Migration Factors in Russian Regions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17059/ekon.reg.2026-1-9Keywords:
migration processes, Russian regions, environmental factor of migration, economic factor of migration, correlation analysis, cluster analysisAbstract
In contemporary Russia, migration serves as the primary mechanism for addressing human resource shortages, which determines the importance of studying migration factors, particularly non-economic ones that remain less explored. The aim of this article is to assess the impact of environmental factors on population migration in Russian regions and to classify these regions based on different combinations of environmental variables affecting migration, using statistical methods such as correlation and cluster analysis. To identify Russian regions where environmental conditions influence migration to a degree comparable with economic factors over a long-term horizon, correlation and cluster analyses were applied. Regions were classified according to specific environmental factors influencing migration: water pollution, air pollution, or a combination of both. The analysis included indicators reflecting the dynamics of the environmental situation in 83 Russian regions from 1995 to 2023, along with indicators of regional labour market dynamics over the same period. The results show that the number of regions where migration correlates with economic indicators is comparable to the number where it correlates with environmental indicators, accounting for over 80 % of regions. However, substantive interpretation of the correlations indicates that the number of regions where environmental factors have a real impact on migration is significantly smaller, approximately one-third, which confirms the predominance of economic factors. It was also found that in most regions where environmental factors influence migration, the effect is limited to a single process, such as air quality or water pollution. The combined impact of multiple processes occurs only in a small number of regions, which are grouped into a specific cluster. The results and methodology of this study provide a foundation for further research into non-economic causes of interregional migration in Russia and for developing evidence-based migration management recommendations.
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