Migration in India under structural transformation
Indian Growth and Development Review
ISSN: 1753-8254
Article publication date: 11 July 2023
Issue publication date: 24 July 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to answer if inter-state migrants in India play a more active role than their intra-state counterparts in labor force participation and entrepreneurship.
Design/methodology/approach
A recursive bivariate probit model is used with an instrumental variable (IV) of the total of inter-state migrants in a city over their historical numbers to tackle the endogeneity issue of the migration decision of the migrants.
Findings
Inter-state migrants did a better job than their intra-state counterparts in labor force participation and female inter-state migrants did a better job than their counterparts in wage employment and being day laborers.
Research limitations/implications
The data are from IPUMS and there is no updated nationwide data regrading migration and employment for recent years.
Practical implications
A randomized controlled trail can be carried out near the borders of two states where there are both significant amounts of inter-state and intra-state migrants.
Social implications
The government and international organizations shall focus on cultivating the skills of the female migrants as well as encouraging the entrepreneurship of both types of migrants.
Originality/value
The study focus is on the comparison between intra- and inter-state migrants based on nationwide survey data and the usage of recursive bivariate model and an effective Instrumental Variable.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to take this opportunity to express his gratitude to Professor Cem Karayalcin and Professor Norihiko Matsuda for their unreserved efforts on refining this paper.
Data availability: The data are from IPUMS and can be downloaded upon registration.
Conflict of interest: There is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Liu, Y. (2023), "Migration in India under structural transformation", Indian Growth and Development Review, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 193-216. https://doi.org/10.1108/IGDR-09-2022-0114
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited