Migration Destinations within Post-Soviet Russia

Timothy Heleniak, University of Maryland

Russia has the second-largest stock of migrants in the world after the United States, with approximately nine percent of its population being foreign born. The country has become the main destination region for migrants within the evolving Eurasian migration system. Much has been written about Russia becoming the major migration destination but little about destination choice within Russia. This paper represents a first attempt to compile data on migrants by destination, examine changing patterns of destinations, and begin to attempt to understand causes. The paper tests three possible factors influencing destination choice of migrants in Russia 1) ethnic factors or the existence of ethnic enclaves 2) economic factors such as large and growing income disparities among Russian regions in the post-Soviet period 3) other factors, such the influence of migration legislation and distance. Russian data on migration, ethnicity, and economic performance will be used to test.