Chapter 21 Labor Migration, Remittances, and Economic Well-Being: A Study of Households in Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Remittances sent by immigrants have long been viewed as a means to combat poverty, to improve consumption, and to raise standard of living. The present study examines the impact of remittances on the economic well-being of Indian households. The analysis is conducted on a randomly selected representative sample of households in Rajasthan. Three types of households are examined: 575 households having current labor migrants, 162 never having migrants, and 232 not having migrants at present but sent migrants in the past. Analysis of the data reveals meaningful differences between the three types of households. Specifically, those having labor migrants are characterized by the highest household income and standard of living. Further analyses suggest that although remittances are likely to improve economic well-being and to secure a higher standard of living they do not have long lasting effect on the economic well-being of the families when migration ends.

Citation

Xing, Y., Semyonov, M. and Haberfeld, Y. (2010), "Chapter 21 Labor Migration, Remittances, and Economic Well-Being: A Study of Households in Rajasthan, India", Epstein, G.S. and Gang, I.N. (Ed.) Migration and Culture (Frontiers of Economics and Globalization, Vol. 8), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 497-516. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1574-8715(2010)0000008027