International applicability of education and migration aspirations

Abstract

Abstract We analyze perceptions of international applicability of one’s education and migration aspirations and intentions among university students in Czechia, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Spain. Students in law perceive their education as least internationally applicable. Perceived international applicability strongly predicts migration aspirations and intentions even after controlling for study fields, individual characteristics, family or friends abroad, and university fixed effects. The association with migration aspirations is strong for both genders, while the association with plans to migrate is driven to a large extent by women who would ideally like to work full time. Our findings are consistent with predictions from a model in which students invest in their education before learning their mobility status.