Analysis of Vocational and Residential Preferences of Rural Population: Application of an Experimental Technique to Rural Slovenia

This study represents the first application of Choice Experiments to the analysis of the monetary and non-pecuniary determinants of vocational choice and spatial labor supply. It identifies the determinants of individual’s choice of jobs and place of residence, and provides a better understanding of the process of rural labor adjustments in a country in transition, Slovenia. The results indicate that the effect of wages, as the main factor influencing employment choice, is counterbalanced by other determinants affecting working conditions and residence. A considerable degree of immobility in terms of migration and commuting has been revealed. As a result, a rapid urbanisation process is unlikely to happen in the near future, according to individuals’ preferences.