I. Žičkutė “The impact of migration factors on international migration decisions: a behavioural economics perspective” doctoral thesis defence

Author, Institution: Ineta Žičkutė, Kaunas University of Technology,

Science area, field of science: Social Sciences, Economics – 04S

Scientific supervisor: Prof. Dr. Vilmantė KUMPIKAITĖ-VALIŪNIENĖ (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Economics, 04S).

Dissertation Defence Board of Economics Science Field:
prof. dr. Daiva Dumčiuvienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Economics, 04S) – chairperson,
dr. Jan Brzozowski (Cracow University of Economics, Social Sciences, Economics, 04S),
dr. Halit Gonenc (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Economics, 04S),
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ingrida Šarkiūnaitė (Vilnius University, Social Sciences, Management, 03S),
Prof. Dr. Dalia Štreimikienė (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Social Sciences, Economics, 04S).

The doctoral dissertation is available at the libraries of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio str. 20, Kaunas), Klaipėda University (K. Donelaičio a. 3, Klaipėda) and Lithuanian Energy Institute (Breslaujos g. 3, Kaunas).

Annotation:

Evidence suggests that people make decisions with bounded rationality. However, rationality is a continuing view in trying to explain human decisions to migrate. The reduction of assumptions on standard economics models could achieve more reality-reflecting explanation of human behaviour. Therefore, the scientific problem is defined as what impact do migration factors have on international migration decisions from the perspective of behavioural economics? The migration factors and their impact on the migration decision have been analysed. The impact of the components of behavioural economics prospect theory and its application in migration decision has been distinguished. This dissertation provides a model of the impact of migration factors on migration decision from the perspective of behavioural economics which is based on socio-economic variables and new components of behavioural economics prospect theory, encompassing the explanation of different people’s behaviour under the domain of gains and losses, i.e. risk preference and loss aversion. A methodology which allows to quantify risk attitudes in migration decision was designed and guidelines of method application provided. The eliciting method and components of the prospect theory were applied in the evaluation of migration decision-making. The model of the impact of migration factors on migration decision was empirically investigated from the perspective of behavioural economics in the case of youth in Lithuania.