Using German panel data and relying on internal relocation, this
paper investigates the anticipation and adaptation of subjective well-being
(SWB) in the course of migration. We hypothesize that SWB correlates with
the process of migration, and that such correlations are at least partly socially
stratified. Our fixed-effects regressions show no evidence of any anticipation
of SWB before the event of migration, but a highly significant and sustained
positive adaptation effect. In general, internal migration seems to lead to a
long-lasting increase in SWB. This is found to be the case for almost all analyzed
socioeconomic and socio-demographic subgroups. The migration distance, the
reasons for migration, and the individuals’ socio-demographic characteristics
do not appear to have any important effects on the overall observed pattern.
Our results suggest that regional mobility is less a response to certain stressors,
but is, rather, a response to an opportunity to improve job- or housing-related
living conditions, and that these improved conditions are reflected in individuals’
SWB. Thus, migration under these circumstances is triggered by opportunities
rather than by constraints.
