Migration and economic mobility in Tanzania
Subtitle: evidence from a tracking survey
By: Kathleen Beegle, Joachim De Weerdt, Stefan Dercon.
Contributors: Weerdt, Joachim de.; Dercon, Stefan.; World Bank.
Series: Policy research working paper -- 4798; Policy research working papers (Online) -- 4798.
Publisher: World Bank
Published: 2008
Place of publication: [Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Migration, Internal -- Tanzania
Description: "This study explores the extent to which migration has contributed to improved living standards of individuals in Tanzania.  Using longitudinal data on individuals, the authors estimate the impact of migration on consumption growth between 1991 and 2004.  The analysis addresses concerns about heterogeneity and unobservable factors correlated with both income changes and the decision to migrate.  The findings show that migration adds 36 percentage points to consumption growth, during a period of considerable growth in consumption.  These results are robust to numerous tests and alternative specifications.  Unpacking the findings, the analysis finds that moving out of agriculture is correlated with much higher growth than staying in agriculture, although growth is always higher in any sector if one physically moves.  Economic mobility is strongly linked to geographic mobility.  The puzzle is why more people do not move if returns to geographic mobility are high.  The evidence is consistent with models in which exit barriers are set by home communities (through social and family norms) that prevent migration of certain categories of people.   "--World Bank web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/8/2009.

Includes bibliographical references.

Also available in print.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.