Heterogeneity in Migration Responses to Climate Shocks: Evidence from Madagascar
Date
2021-09-23
Authors
Marchetta, Francesca
Sahn, David
Tiberti, Luca
Dufour, Johany
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research Consortium
Abstract
We analyse the impact of climate events on migration among a cohort of young adults
residing in rural Madagascar. We find a strong negative impact of drought on the
decision of youth to migrate in the year after the adverse weather shock. Household
assets and access to savings institutions attenuate this impact, consistent with the
notion that wealth and savings cushion the blow of the shock on the resources
required to finance migration. We also find that, households that report more social
connections outside their villages are more likely to have their young adult members
migrate. Our findings suggest that the liquidity constraints from climate shocks that
prevent youth migration are more binding for young women who migrate largely
for reasons of marriage and education. Males, in contrast, are more likely to migrate
in search of employment, which often has higher economic returns than migration
motivated by marriage and education. These factors likely explain why drought deters
the migration of young women, but not so for young men who still choose to migrate
in search of a job.
Description
Keywords
Youth migration , Madagascar , Climate shocks , Internal migration