SOCIAL CAPITAL AND MIGRATION PERCEPTIONS AMONG RURAL YOUTH IN ALBANIA

Abstract

The relationship between social capital and migration perceptions among rural youth in Albania, a country strongly affected by emigration since the 1990s, is investigated in this study. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining a purposive survey of 197 respondents with 15 semi-structured interviews to assess whether community cooperation, neighbourly assistance, and psychological well-being influence perceptions of migration. Due to survey design limitations, the perceived impact of emigration on local economic development was used as a proxy for migration intentions. Descriptive results indicate that moderate levels of migration perceptions (M = 2.57, SD = 1.17) and social capital indicators (community cooperation M = 2.67; neighbourly assistance M = 2.79; psychological well-being M = 3.19) were observed. Quantitative analyses, including OLS regression with robust standard errors and ordinal logistic checks, revealed no statistically significant effects of social capital on migration perceptions. Nevertheless, qualitative findings highlighted a paradox: informational and emotional costs of migration were reduced by local networks, while community cohesion was simultaneously reinforced. These findings suggest that structural constraints, such as unemployment, institutional weakness, and rural underdevelopment, may overshadow the role of social capital in shaping migration attitudes. Empirical evidence from Albania is provided, and policy implications, including diaspora engagement, rural youth support, and the potential use of social networks as tools for both migration and local development, are discussed.