Journal of Economics and Development Studies

Greener Pastures Abroad?: ‘From Study to Stay’ Intention of the Foreign-Trained
Jan-Jan Soon

Abstract
Using a binary logit model, this paper addresses the question of intention change, rather than the more typical issue of whether or not a student returns home. The empirical findings from this paper add to the sparse literature of intention change. Three-fourths of the students in the sample do not change their intention. The students who changed their intention have, on average, stayed in New Zealand for slightly more than 3 years. Those who have not changed their intention have, on average, only stayed in New Zealand for about 2½ years. Doctoral students and students from the health science discipline are more likely to change their intention. The longer a student stays in New Zealand, the likelier he is to change his intention. Male students are less likely to change their intention. So are the students whose initial intentions are to return. Surprisingly, no perception-related variables are significant in terms of their marginal effect on intention change.

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