Far Eastern Capitals: To Leave «for Where» or «from»?

Abstract

The paper presents the main characteristics of migration processes in the Far Eastern capitals. Statistical data and the results of a sociological study made the empirical base of the research. The demographic situation in the administrative centers of the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD) is characterized by heterogeneity.The objects for the study were being selected according to this trend. They include regional centers of the Far Eastern Federal District: with positive demographic dynamics – Yakutsk; negative demographic trends – Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Birobidzhan; and with unstable demographic dynamics – Blagoveshchensk, Chita, and Ulan-Ude. The growth / decline in the population of regional capitals is mostly due to migration processes. The largest number of migrations falls on intro-regional movements. A positive migration increase in the administrative centers of the Far Eastern Federal District is mainly due to the rural-urban migration, the rural population moving to regional capitals. One of the most mobile and stimulating social groups to migrate both to and from the Far Eastern capitals is the youth. The strategies associated with working on a rotational basis are very common. Far Easterners, while continuing their work on a rotational basis in the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District, tend to transport their families to other subjects of the Russian Federation, where, in their opinion, the medical, educational and sociocultural infrastructure is better and ensures their growing children more prospects and opportunities. In general, in most of the Far Eastern capitals under consideration it is observed an upward migration mobility. People with resource capabilities tend to move to the places with more developed social infrastructure, opportunities for jobs, professional self-realization in order to raise their living standards.