The Logic of Letting Go: Family and Individual Migration from Rural Bangladesh
Abstract
This paper studies rural-urban migration by married males in Bangladesh as a two- outcome process consisting of individual moves and family moves. The family/individual distinction is relevant to issues of rural development, urban planning, and old-age dependency since family migration involves the transfer of not only a conjugal family's production, but also its consumption, to the city. The paper presents the results of a logistic hazard analysis of the migration patterns of men in Matlab Thana over a three-year period from 1984 to 1986, employing surveillance and census data. Results show that family migration is more likely than non-migration or individual migration among men from households or communities that lack the media of urban-rural cooperation, long-term insurance, and spousal support that facilitate temporary individual migration in Bangladesh's dual economy. These media include land, access to land, and adult male relatives. The analysis also frequently draws on results of two qualitative field projects, conducted in rural and urban areas, which frequently generate predictions for the analysis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA383418
Entities
People
- Randall S. Kuhn
Organizations
- RAND Corporation