The Role of Welfare in Locational Choices: Modelling Intra-European Migration Decisions Across the Life-Course

In this study, we add to the literature by investigating the role of welfare states in intra-European migration decisions between 25 countries (2003-2008). Distinguishing between three welfare programmes (unemployment, family and old-age benefits) we tested whether social expenditure on each of these arrangements particularly influenced locational choices of individuals within the age groups covered by the respective welfare policy. Findings from a conditional logit model showed a positive impact of spending on family benefits on the locational choices of young adults moving together with children, and of spending on old-age benefits on the locational choices of individuals close to or above retirement age. In contrast, a negative impact of unemployment spending was found on locational choices in general, and those of working-age adults in particular. Our results highlight the importance of further disentangling the often-used general welfare spending measure when studying the link between welfare and migration.