Why people migrated to the countryside in Finland in the 1990s?

Abstract

This paper aims at describing why people migrated to the countryside in Finland in the 1990s and how their in-migration processes succeeded. It contains a summary of the results from my doctoral thesis (Pehkonen, 2004). Motives relating to home and residential environment triggered migration to the countryside: building/buying a one-family house and relation to nature as well as changes in economic situation: unemployment and over indebtedness. Voluntary migration to the countryside, living in a one-family house, economic security and good relations with neighbours guaranteed that the migrants were satisfied with the village where they lived. Positive reputation of migrants, easy interaction and participation in village life contributed to gaining a positive position in the village community.