A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Residential mobility and social capital: Regional analysis in Finland
Authors: Jokela Markus; Soini Eetu; Laakasuo Michael; Parikka Suvi; Rotkirch Anna; Hämäläinen Hans
Publisher: Wiley
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Population, Space and Place
Journal name in source: Population, Space and Place
Article number: e2857
Volume: 31
Issue: 1
ISSN: 1544-8444
eISSN: 1544-8452
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2857
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2857
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/458935206
Multiple factors can influence the rates of residential mobility flows between different regions of a country. Studies have often focused on demographic and economic factors, but social conditions may be relevant as well. We examined whether different indicators of social capital (i.e., social support, loneliness, social trust, community participation, cultural activities, and meeting other people) were associated with population migration rates across 299 municipalities of Finland. Data for the social characteristics were derived from the Regional Health and Wellbeing study (n = 100,750 respondents) aggregated to the level of municipalities using multilevel regression with post-stratification (median number of participants was 115 individuals per municipality, range from 5 to 10,616). Residential mobility rates were derived from census data. Municipalities with higher levels of social support, higher social trust, more cultural activities, and more frequent social contacts had higher net migration rates, that is, more people moving in than out of the municipality. Social support, cultural activities, and community participation were associated with higher in-migration. Social trust and frequency of meeting people were associated with lower out-migration. The findings provide empirical support for the hypothesis that regions with stronger social capital are more attractive destinations for within-country residential mobility.
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Funding information in the publication:
The study is part of the NetResilience consortium funded by the Strategic Research Council of the Academy of Finland (grant numbers 345186, 345184, 345183, and 364384). The INVEST flagship at the University of Turku is funded by the Academy of Finland (Grant number 320162). The funding organizations and/or sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and in the preparation, editing, or censuring of the manuscript.