INTERNAL MIGRATION OF THE POPULATION OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AS A PUBLIC POLICY CHALLENGE

Abstract

Migration, according to statistical definitions, represents the spatial mobility of the population. This is a trend not only in Republika Srpska but also in the wider region, Europe, and beyond. The reasons for spatial mobility vary and differ according to territorial scope, age, gender, residence, and other parameters. In both material and formal terms, there are various reasons for internal migration and different categories of internal migrants. It is assumed that the reasons behind internal migration include the search for employment, education, better living conditions, healthcare, social protection, and more. Since internal migration affects various categories of the population, we can identify youth migration, elderly migration, labour migration, student migration, healthcare worker migration, among others. The subject of this paper is the internal migration of the population of Republika Srpska as a public policy challenge. According to the Republic Institute of Statistics, internal migration in Republika Srpska includes inter-municipal movements within the entity, inter-entity movements, as well as movements between Republika Srpska and the Brčko District. The aim of this research is first to determine the state of internal migration according to the mentioned parameters in Republika Srpska over the past five years, and then to analyse the existence and quality of public policies in the field of internal migration, followed by proposing potential solutions.