Migrant Households Research Articles

Chinese migrant workers’ integration into cities and land transfer amid urban–rural population mobility

Following the economic reforms and opening up, the Chinese government has implemented policies aimed at promoting land transfer, yet the rate of rural land transfer continues to be relatively low, resulting in inefficient land use in rural regions. The movement of people from rural to urban areas is a key driver of land transfer, and the level of integration of migrant workers in urban settings is closely tied to their decisions to transfer land. We analyzed survey data from 1,533 migrant worker households using a binary logistic regression model and conducted an endogeneity test with a two-stage least squares model. The findings indicate that economic, social, psychological, and identity integration, as well as overall urban integration, have a significant positive impact on the likelihood of land transfer, the involvement of non-relatives in transfers, and the length of time land is transferred.Economic integration significantly influences the decision of migrant workers to transfer land, social integration plays a substantial role in transfers involving non-relatives, and psychological and identity integration significantly affects the duration of land transfers. In summary, the analysis recommends that policymakers prioritize fostering a more inclusive urban environment for migrant workers, enhance employment opportunities and social security services for this group, and facilitate the participation of migrant workers in the land transfer market to maximize the value of their land assets.

Effects of parental migration on children’s schooling: a cross-sectional study of internal labour migrants in Delhi, India

ABSTRACT This paper reports how children’s educational prospects are affected when parent(s) migrate for livelihood. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. Six thousand one hundred sixty-eight migrant households from 189 slums and slum-like areas across Delhi were selected following cluster-random sampling. Socio-demographic details of all household members were collected from an adult family member. Analysis of descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were carried out. There were 5,698 children aged 6–14 years in these households. 23.8% of children of migrants (6–14 years) lost the opportunity to attend school. Migration status, ethnicity, residence, per capita income, and parental education were associated with children’s schooling. The study concludes that the children of poor migrants have low levels of schooling at the destination compared to the children of migrants living in their native place.

Living on the slum areas in the shadow of drought: a qualitative analysis of lived experience of migrant households facing drought in Southeast of Iran

BackgroundDrought is one of the most destructive and complex natural hazards, with direct and indirect effects, especially economic effects, on society and households. It affects the well-being and life satisfaction of households. It is important to understand the effects of drought at the micro level, such as households, by examining different attitudes, perceptions, and experiences of drought and its impacts.MethodsThis research aims to investigate the understanding and experiences of the residents of the poor areas of Kerman city regarding drought and its consequences on their well-being and life satisfaction. To that end, the descriptive phenomenology qualitative method was used, selected samples purposefully, and conducted semi-structured and in-depth interviews with households in August and September 2022. MAXQDA2020 software was used to manage and organize the data.ResultsFrom the analysis of the results of the interviews with the households, it was shown that the drought, with its impact on the economic, social, family, health, and environmental dimensions, has been identified as five main themes, leading to a decrease in the well-being and life satisfaction of the households.ConclusionThe drought has caused the migration of families from the cities and villages around Kerman province to the outskirts of the city. Subsequently, with the increase in the population in the outskirts of the city, the problem of waterlessness has increased. As a result, the welfare and life satisfaction of households have decreased.

Household Migration and Adolescent Marriage Choice in Settings with Changing Marriage Systems

This article examines the relationship between family experiences of migration and adolescents’ preferences about who should make the decision about who to marry in two migrant-sending regions. Shifts in familial involvement in spouse choice, like other changes in marriage and family systems, are connected to broader social and economic changes that reduce the centrality of family relationships. Migrant household members may contribute to these changes by reorienting family relationships and interdependencies, or by exposing adolescents to new ideas and values. This study uses data collected in Gaza Province, Mozambique, and Chitwan Valley, Nepal as part of the Family Migration and Early Life Outcomes (FAMELO) project. Using logistic regression, the authors analyze variation in adolescents’ preferences for familial spouse choice by multiple aspects of migration (e.g., timing, receipt of remittances), controlling for adolescent characteristics and other theoretically relevant predictors. Mozambican adolescents in migrant-sending households were more likely to prefer families to choose their spouse than those in households without migration experience. In Nepal, household migration experience was not associated with adolescent spouse-selection preferences. The findings point to a complex association between migration systems and local family structures that shapes adolescents’ ideas about family relationships and their family-formation preferences.

Food Security Status and Associated Drivers Among Climate Migrant Households in Bangladesh: Insight From Urban Informal Settlements

ABSTRACTClimate migrants and their food accessibility are a pressing issue in Bangladesh that has not been adequately addressed in previous studies. This research aimed to examine the food security status and its associated drivers among climate migrant households' residing in urban informal settlements in Khulna city. This study was conducted in three selected wards (12, 21, and 31) known for their urban informal settlements and high concentrations of climate migrants. Data were collected on socioeconomic, demographic, COVID‐19 impacts, and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale using an interview schedule. Descriptive (mean, standard deviation, and percentage) and inferential statistics (chi‐square test and binary logit model) were used to analyze the data. The study found a large portion of households to be food insecure (83.3%). Several socio‐demographic and economic issues, including the household head's education, occupation, and health, the number of working members, monthly income, savings, debt, and access to a safety net, were identified as significant drivers of food insecurity. Moreover, COVID‐19 impacts, considering loss of employment, income, and savings, shortages of daily needs, and price hikes on food items, were identified as the significant contributors to food insecurity. Responsible stakeholders may utilize the outcomes of this study to combat food insecurity and hunger among climate migrants residing in urban informal settlements through necessary policy measures.

HIV and viremia prevalence in non-migrating members of migrant households in southern Uganda: A cross-sectional population-based study.

In Africa, migrants are more likely to be living with HIV and HIV viremic than non-migrants but less is known about HIV outcomes among non-migrants living in households with migrants. We compared HIV outcomes in non-migrating persons in households with and without migration. We analyzed cross-sectional data collected between August 2016-May 2018 from non-migrating participants aged 15-49 in the Rakai Community Cohort Study in Uganda. Migrant households were classified as those reporting ≥1 member moving into or out of the household since the prior survey. HIV serostatus was determined using a validated testing algorithm, and viremia defined as >1,000 copies/mL. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) between household migration and HIV outcomes. Analyses were stratified by gender, direction of migration (into/out of household), and relationship between non-migrants and migrants (e.g., spouse). There were 14,599 non-migrants (52% women) and 4,415 (30%) lived in a household with ≥1 migrant. Of these, 972 (22%) had migrant spouses, 1,102 (25%) migrant children, and 875 (20%) migrant siblings. Overall, HIV prevalence and viremia did not differ between non-migrants in households with and without migration. However, in stratified analyses, non-migrant women with migrant spouses were significantly more likely to be HIV seropositive compared to non-migrant women with non-migrant spouses (adjPR:1.44, 95%CI:1.21-1.71). Conversely, non-migrant mothers living with HIV who had migrant children were less likely to be viremic (adjPR:0.34, 95%CI:0.13-0.86). Non-migrating women with migrating spouses are more likely be living with HIV, and may benefit from additional HIV support services.

Emotional Earmarking: Insights into Remittances and Emotions from a Mixed Methods Study of Migrant Households in Rural Philippines

Overseas remittances improve the economic conditions and influence the financial behaviors of international migrants’ families that remain in the country of origin. Remittances affect family relationships in the hometown and across transnational borders, but migration research has not yet analyzed these family dynamics through the lens of household finance. Recent studies address the remittance–emotion nexus partially and statically rather than holistically and dynamically, delivering an insufficient understanding of complex and evolving links mediated by the sending, using, and investing of remittances. Built on an existing family financial socialization model, and using mixed methods for case studies in two rural municipalities of the Philippines, this study sets out to determine how emotions come into play as families strive to use remittances productively. A central finding is that migrant households employ what we call emotional earmarking to bring about economic benefits along with concurrent emotional benefits to family relationships. This emotional earmarking can help families (as well as migration and development stakeholders) in the productive use of remittances and the maintenance of family connections despite the physical absence of migrant members.

Private Educational Expenditure Inequality between Migrant and Urban Households in China’s Cities

This paper studies households’ expenditure on the education of children in China’s cities to assess how internal migrant families’ investment in the human capital of their offspring differs from that of local urban families. The private education-related expenditure reflects both households’ willingness to invest in human capital and institutional constraints, as China’s household registration (hukou) system prevents children without a local city hukou from enrolling in urban public schools. In-school fees (consisting of statutory tuition and institutional tuition fees) are commonly topped-up with substantial private tutoring expenditure. We apply multiple regression to the 2008 “Rural–Urban Migration Survey in China” data to analyze the average expenditure differences between temporary migrants, permanent migrants and locals. The findings are, after controlling for social and economic characteristics, that: (1) the overall spending on education of migrant households overwhelmingly exceeds that of locals, which is expected since migrants must finance privately all education-related expenses their children incur; (2) migrant households spend more on institutional tuition fees compared to households with a local city hukou, reflecting the varying severity of administrative hurdles faced by families; and (3) temporary migrants spend more on institutional tuition fees than permanent migrant households, but less in private tutoring.

Which Factors Predict L2 Receptive Vocabulary and Expressive Syntax in Bilingual Children from Low-SES Families?

The objective of the current study was two-fold. First, it aimed to estimate receptive vocabulary and expressive syntax skills in L2 Italian among early sequential/simultaneous bilingual children of migrant single-mother families with very low socioeconomic status (SES). This objective was achieved by matching the participants' performance with normative data. Secondly, this study aimed to identify which individual and language exposure factors contributed to learning L2 vocabulary and syntax. Twenty-four early sequential/simultaneous bilingual children (age range = 5.10-12.4 years) and their mothers were enrolled. Mothers answered questions about linguistic biography and demographic information. Children completed Lexical Comprehension, Sentence Repetition, and Non-Word Repetition tasks from the Language Assessment Battery for 4-12-year-olds to, respectively, assess receptive vocabulary, expressive syntax, and phonological processing. Moreover, non-verbal intellectual functioning was evaluated by the Raven's Test. Compared to normative data, 20 children showed lower receptive vocabulary abilities (<-1.5 SD), 24 lower expressive syntax skills (-2DS), and 7 children lower phonological processing (<-1.5 DS). Moreover, L2 phonological processing and the length of L2 exposure in an educational context positively predicted L2 receptive vocabulary as well as L2 expressive syntax skills. To date, performance in L2 among early sequential/simultaneous bilingual children from migrant households and very low SES remains underexplored. Future efforts need to be directed towards the understanding of factors that impact oral competence in L2, considering that these children will also be exposed to written L2 in the school context.

Poverty among migrant, mixed, and non-migrant households: the role of non-teleworkability and single-earnership in Germany

ABSTRACT Migrant and mixed households have higher poverty than non-migrant households. This is partly because single-earner two-adult households are more prevalent in migrant and mixed households and because such households have different job characteristics. One crucial job characteristic is teleworkability. Whether or not individuals can work from home has become a dividing factor in the labour market. While much research has focused on how teleworkability affects poverty in the majority population, less attention has been devoted to migrant and mixed two-adult households. Using the German Microcensus (2019), we construct work arrangements based on the number of earners in the household and their job‘s teleworkability to predict poverty for non-migrant (N = 49,507), mixed (N = 6,818), and migrant households (N = 8,922). Descriptive statistics show that, in Germany, migrant and mixed households have more single-earner and non-teleworkable work arrangements. Results from logistic regressions report higher poverty for non-teleworkable and single-earner work arrangements, putting mixed and migrant households at an increased disadvantage. Furthermore, we find that migrant (and mixed) households not only have a higher prevalence of high-poverty work arrangements but also higher poverty than non-migrant and mixed households within the same work arrangements.

Guardians Looking From Outside: Gendered Experiences of Labor Migration and Psychosocial Health Among Nepalese Migrant Fathers and Left-Behind Mothers.

Nepalese migrant workers are at heightened risk of adverse mental health problems. However, the social mechanisms by which experiences of labor migration create such vulnerabilities are not well understood. Moreover, limited attention has been paid to the experiences of left-behind spouses. This study explores how migrant fathers and left-behind mothers experience labor migration and how migration affects mental health across migrant household members, paying special attention to the role of gender. We conducted 29 in-depth interviews with Nepalese migrant fathers (N = 18) in South Korea and left-behind mothers (N = 11) in Nepal. Labor migration imposes substantial stress on the entire family. Migrant fathers discussed their feelings of guilt and worry regarding their relationships with their children due to physical and emotional distance. Left-behind mothers indicated loneliness and caregiver stress due to additional responsibilities as a single parent. Migrant fathers reported that they felt respected by their communities for their work, while left-behind mothers felt heavily scrutinized. Our findings highlight how labor migration reinforces gender inequalities in domestic responsibilities and norms regarding the expected roles of migrating men and left-behind women. These findings suggest that psychosocial services must be tailored to the unique needs of migrant workers and left-behind families.

Life Out of the Shadows: the Impacts of Regularization Programs on the Lives of Forced Migrants

Abstract We examine the well-being effects of a regularization program offered to half a million Venezuelan forced migrants in Colombia. We collected data on more than 2000 such migrants and compared the well-being of those who arrived in Colombia before and after the date that defined program eligibility. Since this date was announced ex-post and was unknown to the public, we could credibly evaluate the program’s impact. We find that program beneficiaries experienced large improvements in well-being, including consumption per capita (a gain of 48%), monthly labor income (an increase of 22%), and health status (an increment of 1.2 standard deviations). These positive outcomes largely stemmed from improved access to services, particularly the social protection system, subsidized healthcare system, and financial services. We also find that the fiscal costs incurred by the Colombian government for a regularized migrant household are lower than those for an irregular migrant household.

The role of rural-urban migration on child survival in Kenya.

Migration in many developing countries is mostly motivated by the need to improve the well-being of individuals or household members. The aim of this study, therefore, was to establish the role of rural-urban migration on child survival in Kenya. Using a sample of 156,977 children pooled from six Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in Kenya between 1989 and 2014 we compared child survival for five sets of paired migration statuses using odds ratios. The results of the odds ratio for the composite analysis show that children born to rural non-migrants, rural-to-urban migrants and urban-to-rural migrants were 31 percent, 15 percent and 33 percent respectively more likely to die compared to those born to urban non-migrants. Children born to rural-to-urban migrants were 12 percent less likely to die compared to those born to rural non-migrant women while survival chances were similar for children born to urban-to-rural migrants and rural non-migrants. When odd ratios are decomposed by socioeconomic and health characteristics, the results suggest that most of the rural-to-urban migrants face adaptability challenges in urban region. From these results, we conclude that migration can affect child survival through the socioeconomic and environmental adaptability capability of the migrant households. Policies on child survival should therefore aim at bridging the socioeconomic gaps between migrant groups. Specifically, the progressive development policies at both national and devolved governance should aim at reducing the geographical socioeconomic disparities. Keywords: Migration, Child survival, Rural region, Urban region, Odds ratio

Tiebout Sorting and Toxic Releases

Combining detailed county-to-county migration data with Toxics Release Inventory data, and fine-scale PM2.5\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\hbox{PM}_{2.5}$$\\end{document} concentration levels, we investigate the relationship between internal migration, income of migrant and non-migrant households and county-level differences in environmental quality. We show that households moving to “cleaner” counties are relatively “richer”—a result consistent with a sorting by income in the spirit of Tiebout (1956). An implication of this finding is that internal migration could contribute to the persistence of disparities in pollution exposure at the county-level.

The smart TV in low-income migrant households: Enabling digital inclusion through social and cultural media participation

This paper reports on an ethnographic study that examined smart TV use in low-income migrant households in Australia. We find that the smart TV is used by migrant families for diverse forms of social and cultural participation. In addition, we find that YouTube – which is often accessed using the smart TV – is reshaping family media practices. We argue that while digital inclusion scholarship has focussed on access to and use of mobile phones, laptops and computers, the smart TV, perhaps more than any other device in the home, enables digital inclusion through intergenerational media engagement. This paper presents insights for policymakers and offers a new area for investigation for digital inclusion and media scholars.

Social Group Membership, Social Identities, and Mental Health Experiences in Urban Poor Communities in Ghana: A Critical Social Psychology Inquiry.

Social groups and identities significantly influence mental health outcomes, yet their impact in resource-poor communities remains understudied. We explored the role of social group memberships and identities in shaping mental health experiences in two urban poor communities in Ghana. Data from 77 participants were analyzed thematically, revealing widespread engagement in social groups that provide access to both material and symbolic resources. However, these groups also serve as sources of tension and contribute to the stigmatization and marginalization of vulnerable members. Those affected include individuals with severe mental disorders, men experiencing depression, young men involved in substance abuse, family caregivers, migrant and tenant households, and otherwise healthy individuals with recurring psychosocial challenges. The groups exacerbate mental health challenges and restrict access to care among marginalized populations. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing mental health support and reducing stigma in resource-poor settings.

Income and Expenditure Patterns Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Fisherfolk Households in Malappuram District, Kerala, India

This study examines the income and expenditure patterns among migrant and non-migrant fisherfolk households in Malappuram District, Kerala. Based on a sample of 375 households, with 172 migrants and 203 non-migrants surveyed between August 2023 and December 2023. Malappuram district which is located in the southern Indian state of Kerala, is known for its Kerala model of development and foremost position in the marine fisheries sector. Employing statistical tools such as chi-square, independent sample t-tests, and multiple linear regression, the study analyses how migration affects the income and expenditure patterns of the marine fisherfolk community. The chi-square results reveal significant disparities in occupational choices influenced by migration. The independent sample t-test indicates a statistically significant difference in mean income between migrant and non-migrant households. The multiple linear regression model examines the influence of migration status on expenditure alongside other explanatory variables, revealing that migration status and income significantly predict expenditure, while family size and age do not. These results, taken together, offer a sophisticated picture of how migration affects the income and spending habits of the Malappuram district's fishing community. Several policy suggestions can be made in light of these findings to reduce inequalities and improve the standard of living for households headed by migrant and non-migrant fishermen. Migrant fishermen can increase their income levels and have more career options by implementing focused skill development and training programs. The community can be empowered and long-term benefits can be ensured by supporting education and awareness programs that emphasize sustainable fishing practices and financial literacy.

Household migration decisions: Understanding Ethiopians irregular migration from Kembata‐Tembaro zone to the Republic of South Africa

AbstractThis research intends to shed light on the household migration decision‐making process of Ethiopian irregular migrants heading to the Republic of South Africa. Data were drawn from a cross‐sectional household survey (n = 659) and in‐depth interviews (n = 24) conducted in 2022. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic regressions and thematic analysis were employed to analyse the data. Our findings reveal that being a young male, having a large household size, the presence of family members and smugglers positively influence households' decisions for irregular migration. Possession of farmland, being employed and married have a negative influence on household decisions for migration. The study findings further show that prior information about the migration destination is important in the household's migration decision‐making process. We suggest that government actions and policy interventions should be based on such empirical evidence to promote safe and regular migrations while addressing potential migrants' aspirations and needs in their pursuit of a better life.

Impact of Returnee Remittances on Migrant Households’ Well-Being in Bangladesh

Impact of Returnee Remittances on Migrant Households’ Well-Being in Bangladesh

Male migration and its Impact on women in Kapilbastu

Although males are generally thought to be the ones who migrate internationally, women who were not migrants nonetheless suffer significant effects as a result of the migration of their male counterparts. Left behind women given second-class status in relation to men, this presents both a difficulty and an opportunity. Women who are more capable not only have more independence and overall well-being, but their improved abilities also have a favorable impact on the lives of friends and family. Women are capable of handling situations effectively when given the opportunity to assume responsibility for social, political, and economic facets of life. From this perspective, the primary objective of this study is to identify the variables influencing women's empowerment in Kapilbastu Municipality. Similarly, the secondary goal of the study is to determine how international migration affects the situation of women who are left behind in the study region. From the research region, 50 migrant households and 50 non-migrant households were chosen using purposive sampling method. As per the results of the study, male migration abroad has significantly contributed to their enhanced abilities and increased engagement in outdoor pursuits. They made a lot of wonderful friends, learned a lot about the outside world, experienced sharing, learned how to interact with people outside, and generally had a positive outlook on life as a result of their engagement in outdoor activities.