In this paper, we investigate the local and self-identity characteristics of socio-cultural groups based on social representation theory and one of its methods (association method). Carried out on a sample of rural youth, the analysis focused on the relationship between the four groups, distinguished by their social representations of identity, with different intensities of meaning and the sociological background variables. In addition to the expected results, the hypothetical explanation for the contradiction in the emotional attachment and mobility variables can be further empirically confirmed.

The purpose of the study is to explore and describe the characteristics, mobility dimensions of immobilized youth living in small settlements of less than 2500 people and seeing opportunities and perspectives in their own villages. We examine separately the views of parents of young people on their children’s mobility, seeking parallels and explanations with their views. The results may serve as a basis for further research and may prepare analyzes focusing on the target group. The research was carried out in the framework of the MTA Excellence Cooperation Program, the Mobility Research Center, and 104 interviews form the basis of the research.

This study explores the lack of mobility and the lack of motivation for mobility among poverty- stricken youths with low levels of education who live in small villages. I strive to find out why underprivileged young individuals stay in their local village instead of moving to areas with more abundant opportunities and employment. My manuscript also examines their family life and their relationship with their parents, and how those factors could impact their attachment to their village. The main question to analyze is whether young people stay in impoverished rural villages voluntarily or as a result of a lack of choice and a rational decision, or whether they are drifting. My analysis of the data indicates that the lack of mobility among destitute rural youths is not driven by free decisions. My results suggest that these young people belong to a drifting social group, not in charge of their own fate, unaware of the world beyond their immediate surroundings, uninformed, dependent, vulnerable, living in an environment based on mere reciprocity, and thus, in a sense, they are a marginalized social group.

The study examines the effects of the spatial mobility of the family. The family’s influence in many areas of people’s lives, so the socio-spatial movements. The people in the family will inherit the bulk of their resources, provides for standards, values, skills, behavior patterns of transmission, all have an impact on the social and geographical movement-related efforts and opportunities. A study of rural young people in interviews to examine the family and the relationship between mobility, immobility. The interviewees aged between 19 and 25 have in common is that they have already completed their studies, and their parents live in the same village. An analysis of how these young people are present in the családtörténetében mobility, we are characterized by their family members, relatives, and family resources spatial movement, kötődéseik, what impact does the site less costly.

According to the results of the youth research, young people are often pointless and find it difficult to plan for the future. Based on the results of a qualitative study conducted in 2018, this study presents the future plans of a special target group of young people aged 19–25 living in villages who have completed their education. We looked at how young people think about their career paths at school and in the labor market and also their future residence. Based on their ideas on their future, we classified young people into three types (conscious future builder, drifting, accumulator of failures) and, in the analysis, we present each vision indicator based on the types examined. We will also look at how the educational gap between young people and the current situation in life influence future plans.

The study looks for answers to the question: what are the reasons behind staying in small mu- nicipalities, especially in highly disadvantaged villages, when moving into cities offers obvious advantages. We have analysed the motives, as well as attractive and repulsive factors based on 104 interviews, in case of 13 municipalities. The interviews convincingly certify that the decision about moving or staying in one place is a complex, multifactorial process. In this, employment opportunities have an undeniably important, however, not completely exclusive role. It is cor- related with the demographic characteristics, gender, age, family status, labour market para- meters, education level, financial characteristics, individual peculiarities, health status of the individual, as well as with its attitude towards changes, ethnic background, and its contentment concerning the given settlement.

The paper takes into account theoretical, speculative considerations to explain why villagers, especially highly educated young villagers, stay (relocate) to their village after completing their studies. Explanations are needed because the usual assumptions are that the village offers poorer job opportunities, lower earnings, poorer conditions of consumption, entertainment and education than cities - it seems useful and rational for young people to move to a city (or abroad) with a richer supply of facilities; if they are geographically and socially mobile. Against this often generalized assumption, there are circumstances in which both the interests of material utility and the prospect for gaining attractive social status make it a reasonable choice to stay in the village, to be ‚immobile’. These circumstances are considered as possible explanations for immobility.