Sentiments and Migration Intentions in the Western Balkans: Examining the Paradox

To understand the phenomenon of mgration from the Western Balkans, this paper analyzes the determinants of future migration intentions. Our investigation initially revealed an unexpected relationship between respondent sentiments and their intentions to migrate. To investigate further, an eclectic model was developed incorporating the determinants favored by both the location choice and network approaches. The findings are generally consistent with a priori expectations: a respondents level of satisfaction with their household’s and country’s current and future situation had a significant impact on migration intentions.