Exploring the Reasons and Status of Out Migration in the Informal Sector of West Bengal: A Household Level Analysis During Post-COVID-19 Period

Arpita Ghose () and Sushil Kr. Haldar ()
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Arpita Ghose: Jadavpur University
Sushil Kr. Haldar: Jadavpur University

Journal of Quantitative Economics, 2025, vol. 23, issue 3, No 10, 925-947

Abstract: Abstract Using multi-stage random sampling method from three distinct zones of rural West Bengal (WB) selected on the basis of land productivity, this article explores the reasons of male out-migration from the informal sector during post-COVID-19 period. The empirical results suggest that probability of male migration from the rural households (PRMM) is accentuated positively by (i) poverty (viz. multidimensional deprivation score), (ii) family size, (iii) an increase in distance from residences to secondary-school, (iv) exogenous random shock like natural disasters, (v) households possessing agricultural land of lower productivity residing in Western Region (viz. Purulia district) of WB, highlighting that characteristics of the regions; i.e., geo-spatial differences in the regions of WB matters in explaining PRPM. PRMM reduces if (i) the household’s occupation is cultivation; i.e., type of the present occupation of the households matters in explaining PRMM, (ii) Families receive financial benefit from job card, (which is related to the mandate of the Mahatma-Gandhi-National-Rural-Employment-Guarantee-Act,2005 (MGNREGA) of India-Government, and implemented by state- government of WB (GoWB), which is to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage-employment in a financial-year to every rural-household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual-work) and have Kannyashree Prokolpo (an initiative of the GoWB seeking to improve the wellbeing of girls, through conditional cash-transfers by incentivizing them to continue education for a longer period of time viz. completion of secondary/ higher-secondary-education so that the family does not arrange girl’s marriage before the age18.). 42% of the migrants received quarantine-facilities of which local-government provided 65.48%. Policies are suggested to discourage male- out-migration from WB and foster inclusive- rural-development.

Keywords: Migration; Poverty; Logit model; West Bengal; India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I38 J61 J68 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s40953-025-00453-x

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