Costs and Benefits of Seasonal Migration: Evidence from India

Clément Imbert and John Papp
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John Papp: R.I.C.E

The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) from University of Warwick, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper provides new evidence on rural-to-urban migration decisions in developing countries. Using original survey data from rural India, we show that employment provision on local public works significantly reduces seasonal migration. Workers who choose to participate in the program forgo much higher earnings outside of the village. Structural estimates imply that the utility cost of one day away may be as high as 60% of migration earnings. Up to half of this cost can be explained by higher living costs and income risk. The other half likely reflects high non-monetary costs from living and working in the city.

Keywords: Internal Migration; Workfare Programs; India; Urban; Rural (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H53 J22 J61 O15 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-lma, nep-mig and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wrk:warwec:1161

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