An investigation of inclination to migrate from Iran and factors affecting the process: Results of the secondary analysis of social capital survey in 2018

Nowadays, international migration is one of the most important factors affecting population dynamics and changes, which has also turned the attention of both researchers and policymakers. Understanding factors that underlie the desire to migrate has an impact on future migration tendencies and trends. The aim of the present study is to identify the extent of Iranians' desire to go abroad and the impact of demographic-contextual and structural factors on it. The methodology applied here is the secondary analysis of micro-data of the National Social Capital Survey of 2018. The sample includes 17078 people aged 18 and above living in 31 provinces of the country. According to the research findings, 42% of the respondents are willing to emigrate and are considered as potential immigrants. The results showed that people with a tendency to emigrate are often single, young (18 to 49 years old), with university education, middle class and living in cities. Also, the results of bivariate analysis of the relationship between structural factors (social satisfaction, social hope and vitality, sense of social security and assessment of the future of the country) showed that all these have a negative and significant connection with the tendency to emigrate abroad. Finally, based on the results of multivariate analysis (logistic regression), by controlling demographic and contextual variables, the level of social hope and vitality and the assessment of future situation of the country, still have a significant effect on the tendency to migrate.