Can the Theory of Motivation
Explain Migration Decisions?
Natálie Reichlová
Charles University in Prague
Theoretical background:
Maslow‘s motivational theory
• Physiological needs
– Food, beverages, vitamins, salt, sugar…
• Safety needs
– Stability, preference for familiar, known…
• Social needs
– Longing for family, friends, coleagues, nation…
• Esteem needs
– Respect, appreciation, usefulness, freedom…
• Self-actualization
– Apply talents and geniuses
Description of the model
ENVIRONMENT & INITIAL SETTINGS
• 3 regions (grids), 20 x 20 cells
• convoluted into torus shape
• wage level
• 399 agents
• 133 agents in each region in the initial period
BEHAVIOUR OF AGENTS
• Agents maximize utility
• Agents receive wage paid in the region they are present in
• Maximized function depends on wage received
ABOVE THRESHOLD
WAGE
physiological &
social & safety needs
BELOW THRESHOLD
WAGE
physiological needs
• Agents decide one after another
Model
Maximized utility function is:
  0,1 … parameter that expresses sensitivity to social variable
  0,1… sensitivity to native country variable
j ………… number of periods spent abroad
T…………. threshold below which agents are concerned only in wage
…determines speed of establishment and abandonment of social ties
Simple wage maximization model
Agents maximize only wages
Wage parameters:
WA= 250 WB = 500 WC = 750
Initial wages:
wA = 1.865 wB = 3.731 wC = 5.597
Stable state:
Wages in stable state: wA = wB = wC = 3.731
WAGES EQUALIZED WITHIN FIRST PERIOD
Model with safety & social needs
Wage parameters:
WA= 250 WB = 500 WC = 750
Initial wages:
wA = 1.865 wB = 3.731 wC = 5.597
Sensitivity to safety needs:
α = 0.3
Sensitivity to social needs:
β = 0.3
Speed of creation of social ties: σ = 0.1
Physiological threshold:
T=0
Postponement (# of periods):
P = 10
Wages in stable state: wA = 2.155 wB = 3.731 wC = 4.934
Wage parameters:
WA= 250 WB = 500 WC = 750
Initial wages:
wA = 1.865 wB = 3.731 wC = 5.597
Sensitivity to safety needs:
α = 0.3
Sensitivity to social needs:
β = 0.3
Speed of creation of social ties: σ = 0.1
Physiological threshold:
T = 3.5
Postponement (# of periods):
P = 10
Wages in stable state: wA = 3.521 wB = 3.731 wC = 3.807
T > 0  OUTFLOW OF AGENTS FROM COUNTRY WITH WAGE
BELOW THRESHOLD  LOWER WAGE GAPS
Conclusions
I.
Wages in all regions either exceed minimal physiological
threshold or are equalized in stable state.
stable state :
wi > T
or
wA = wB = wC
REAL WORLD:
People should migrate from countries where wages are below
physiological threshold.
II.
If agents include safety needs into decision making
then wages may remain unequalised in stable state.
for  > 0 stable state may occur for wA  wB  wC
REAL WORLD:
If people appreciate living in home country compared to foreign
country and their income is higher then physiological minimum
then migration flows might stop even if the wage differences
between states (regions) exist.
III.
If agents include social needs into decision making
then wages may remain unequalised in stable
state.
for  > 0 stable state may occur for wA  wB  wC
REAL WORLD:
If people appreciate proximity of people they well know and
their income is higher then physiological minimum then
migration flows might stop even if the wage differences
between states (regions) exist.
IV.
The more important are social and safety needs, the
lower convergence of wage levels due to migration
occurs.
REAL WORLD:
Mobility may be different between regions with equal wage gap
due to different cultural settings.
Social security benefits above physiological threshold decrease
willingness to move.
Wage differentials may persist even if no barriers to migration
exist.
END OF PRESENTATION