THE INTERACTION EFFECT OF RISK-TAKING PROPENSITY AND AN EARLIER EMIGRANT EXPERIENCE ON EMIGRATION ATTITUDES OF YOUNG BULGARIANS: SURVEY EVIDENCE FROM AN EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRY

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the interactive effect of risk-taking propensityand previous emigration experience on the emigration attitudes of young Bulgarians.The relationship between risk-taking propensity and emigration attitudes has not beenexplored in the prism of prior emigration behavior in Eastern European countries likeBulgaria - a sending rather than receiving country. Additionally, risk propensity isexamined as both a generic and domain-specific construct. A national survey,representative of young Bulgarians aged 18-35 (N=1200), was conducted in September-October 2021. Both overall and domain-specific risk propensity were measured using arevised 15-item version of Jackson�s Risk-Taking Scale (1994). Emigration attitudeswere assessed through an original 5-item Emigration Attitudes Scale, demonstratingrobust psychometric properties. The findings indicate that young natives with a personalhistory of emigration are significantly more inclined to take overall, social, and ethicalrisks, and to emigrate in the future compared to those without emigration experience.Furthermore, prior emigration experience conditions the positive effect of overall,financial, and ethical risk-taking propensity on emigration attitudes. The findingscontribute to extending the explanatory models of emigration attitudes and behaviour.They also hold practical implications for the development of group-specific policies andmeasures for both return migrants and non-migrants.