The intention to migrate from more developed to less developed areas: evidence from Hong Kong

This paper examines migration from less developed areas to more developed areas. Based on recent data collected in Hong Kong in 2020, we explore the intention of Hong Kong Chinese residents aged between 18 and 50 to move to mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Despite rapid economic growth in the area, many local Hong Kong Chinese residents still consider mainland cities in GBA as less developed. In this study, we provide an alternative framework for exploring the ways that economic and non-economic factors can influence the intention to migrate from less developed areas to more developed areas. The results of our analyses demonstrate that non-economic adjustment cost, such as the level of familiarity with the destination, social networks, and ability to speak Putonghua, plays an important role in shaping the intention of working-age adults in Hong Kong to move to mainland cities in GBA.