Quality of life, quality of business, and destinations of recent graduates: fields of study matter

Arthur Grimes; Shaan Badenhorst; David Maré; Jacques Poot; Isabelle Sin

Abstract – Tuhinga Whakarāpopoto

One of the main challenges facing non-metropolitan regions is convincing highly educated young people to move into their area and then keeping them. This research tests whether students from different types of institution and from different fields of study decide to live in places that are regarded as fun or in places that are good to do business. Graduates from all fields of study other than agriculture want to live in places that have high overall quality of business, which tend to be large cities. High quality of life is also an attractor for some students, but its impact isn’t as strong as the pull of income opportunities. Arts and commerce graduates are more likely to locate in places that are attractive to business, consistent with a symbiosis between ‘creatives’ and business. Places can leverage their existing strengths to act as drawcards to recent graduates.

Other reports associated with this research

Grimes, A. Badenhorst, S., Maré, D., Poot, J. & Sin, I. (2020). Hometown & whānau, or big city & millennials? The economic geography of graduate destination choices in New Zealand. Motu Working Paper 20-04 for Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities Thriving Regions. July 2020, 68pgs. Wellington: Motu.

Grimes, A., Preston, K., Maré, D., Badenhorst, S. & Donovan, S. (2019). The contrasting importance of quality of life and quality of business for domestic and international migrants. Motu Working Paper 19-06. Wellington: Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.

Grimes, A., Preston, K., Maré, D., Badenhorst, S. & Donovan, S. (2019). The contrasting importance of quality of life and quality of business for domestic and international migrants: Executive Summary. Executive Summary of Motu Working Paper 19-06.

Wellington: Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.

Articles associated with this research – Karere Tūhono

News: Where do graduates go? It depends on their degree

29 August 2022: A highly-educated population is a known key driver of local growth and prosperity, but one of the main challenges facing non-metropolitan regions is convincing highly educated young people to move into their area and then keeping them. In turn, losing the brightest from a community can lead to reduced business creation, innovation, growth, and community well-being in such regions. >> Read More

News: Where do bright young things settle after graduation?

8 July 2020: A highly-educated population is one of the key drivers of local growth and prosperity. One of the main challenges facing non-metropolitan regions is the attraction and retention of tertiary educated graduates. >> Read More

Keywords – Kupu Hāngai

population demographics, community, economics, migration, urban development, graduates, local amenity, higher education, human capital, graduate migration, networks, amenities, regional development

Fields of Research – Āpure Rangahau

Geography; Urban Studies; Population Demographics; Regional Development

 

Date – Te Wā Whakarewa

2022-03

 

Type – Te Auaha

Journal paper

Collections – Kohinga Kaupapa
Citation – Kupu Hautoa

Grimes, A., Badenhorst, S., Maré, D., Poot, J., & Sin, I. (2022). Quality of life, quality of business, and destinations of recent graduates: fields of study matter. Ann Reg Sci. DOI: 10.1007/s00168-022-01117-x

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