Gendered migration responses to drought in Malawi

Luis G. BECERRA - Valbuena and Katrin Millock
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Luis G. BECERRA - Valbuena: Paris School of Economics
Katrin Millock: Paris School of Economics

JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, 2021, vol. 87, issue 3, 437-477

Abstract: Migration is a common means of adaptation to weather shocks. Previous research has identified heterogeneous effects according to age, sex, and wealth, but little is still known about how marriage-related institutions affect such migration. Relying on a quasi-experimental identification strategy, we analyze marriage- and work-related migration in Malawi following large droughts, separating the effects for female and male migrants according to different age groups. The analysis based on stated motives of migration reveals marginal decreases in marriage-related migration among girls, but increases in marriage-related migration within districts for women in older age groups. We also find large increases in work-related between-district migration for boys, and to a smaller extent also for girls following severe drought. The results add to the evidence of the potentially adverse effects of migration as a coping mechanism following drought when other means of insurance do not exist.

Keywords: Child marriage; Climate change; Droughts; Internal migration; Sub-Saharan Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J12 O15 Q54 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-09-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ctl:louvde:v:87:y:2021:i:3:p:437-477

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