Young Germany loves the city

The RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research has published a study in which researchers examined internal migration among different age groups between 2008 and 2014 (i.e., moves within Germany across state borders). The researchers looked at more than 400 counties and analyzed not only the extent of this wave of relocation, but also the primary factors responsible for the decision to move.

As a consequence, it can be said that the increase in moves from rural areas to cities is creating demographic inequality, which is likely to continue to grow in the future. Current figures confirm this assumption. In the last seven years, approximately 250,000 more people moved to cities in Germany than moved away from them. This is now leading to a growing problem of population loss in rural areas.

This issue is particularly serious among 18- to 29-year-olds. Almost 460,000 more Germans in this age group moved to cities than to rural areas. The reasons are as varied as they are obvious. Young people want to break away from their parents' homes, experience new things, and look for universities and training places in large cities that offer better career opportunities.

The situation is different for those over 30. Some of them moved to the countryside and thus away from the city. The reasons are typical, such as career changes, family decisions, or a desire to own their own home and move away from rented accommodation in the city. However, significantly fewer people over the age of 30 change their place of residence than those aged 18 to 29. At 43 percent, they make up the majority of internal migration in Germany.

Measurable indicators of change

Wage level factor:
Young people like to move to places where they can earn good money. According to statistics, they are also better paid in large cities.

Unemployment factor:
According to research, this factor is more likely to be the reason for leaving a place; people tend to avoid locations with high unemployment rates or move away. Interestingly, this no longer plays a role for people over 50.

Housing costs:
On average, thisfactorhas the least influence on the groups of Germans who are moving. It has the greatest impact on 30- to 49-year-olds. The reasons for this are mostly family growth and the resulting need for more living space.

The conclusion to be drawn from this study and the experience of recent years is therefore that the country is becoming increasingly unattractive for young people and that large cities are becoming more and more desirable. It can therefore be assumed that the wave of people moving to cities will continue in the near future. Ergo, more living space will be needed, which will be particularly noticeable in cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg.

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