Name of the Project: Geographical aspects in the migration of Hungarian health-care professionals

Identifier: K 124938

Supporter: National Research, Development and Innovation Office

Duration: 01. 09. 2017. – 31. 08. 2020.

Funding: 15.295.000 Ft

The proposed three-year research analyses the reasons, the motivational factors and the consequences of labour migration of the Hungarian doctors and health care professionals, focusing on the spatial aspects, the role of the place and geographical factors. Further, it draws the attention to different national and international levels, highlighting the main differences between central and peripheral regions in Hungary.

The main objectives of our research is the definition of the theoretical framework of the study, the problem-oriented approach, the innovative application of qualitative methods in social geography and creating practical results which would be useful also for the migrants.

The most important theoretical aim of the study that through the international literature the geographical characteristics of migration can be adopted to a complex approach which uses the framework of eco-psycho-political validity, taking into consideration the specific post-socialist characteristics of our region. Our starting point is that the decision-making mechanism behind the motivation of migration determined by many factors, including geographical factors as well

The empirical purpose of our research is dual: on the one hand, to define the role of geographical spaces in the motivations and decisions related to migration, on the other hand, to compare these results with the problem management mechanisms and the efficiency of policy interventions. For this purpose, we use different methods: statistical analysis, questionnaire survey and interviews.

Our project aims to provide policy recommendations for decision makers.