Age And Cohort Effects On Regional Migration In Turkey

This article investigates current age cohort effects on regional migration in Turkey and compares the results of this study with the results of a similar study made for the period of 1985-1990. It has been widely investigated in developed countries for years whereas it is more recent subject in developing countries like Turkey. The waste amount of migration from economically backward east and southeastern regions of Turkey has been continuing during the half-century with a decreasing degree. This is not just an increase in urban population but also transformation of its economy, politics, urban structure, social fabric, public facilities, life style as well as its relationships to the international arena. It is expected that the new settlement system simultaneously generated a new pattern of growth and interaction. The results of the study illustrate that the division of regional migration among the age groups represents a similar pattern with different degrees except some points. The age group between the 20-24 has the highest amount of migrants with respect to other age groups between 2007-2011. However, the similar study made for 1985-1990 indicates that ages between 24 to 29 has the highest rates. Although, this study is made nearly 30 years after the older one, the highest age periods are almost the same. The reason why those groups have the highest migration rates is to find attractive jobs and to have higher education. The difference in this ratio is higher in developed regions when it is compared to less developed regions of Turkey. On the other hand, later age migration is increasing towards whether the Marmara or Central Anatolian regions between 2007-2011. The reason is that some families migrate with their children coming to these regions for educational reasons. Moreover, some older migrants prefer accommodations in south due to low living costs and mild climate. The in-migration to Mediterranean region was increasing as the cohort shifts become older because of amenity reasons which is similar in the western countries. These amenity migrants are strongly attracted by pleasant climate and favorable economic conditions. Meanwhile, those probably return to their hometown which can be called as return-migration. Both studies illustrate that developed regions grow more rapidly compared to less developed or developing regions. However, this trend is not something that is equally distributed among all accommodations. Key Words: Cohort shift, migration, regional, age, immigrant, Turkey.