In‐migration, International Migration, Domestic Migration and Indirect Consumption

• In Event: 349 - Section on Sociology of Development Paper Session. Emerging Issues in the Sociology of Development

Abstract

We examine how different forms of migration--both in-migration and labor out-migration--are related to households’ direct consumption of natural resources (in contrast to indirect consumption via goods purchased in the marketplace). Direct versus indirect consumption is an important outcome because it fundamentally defines how people relate to their natural environment. People with direct consumption may have more knowledge and concern for environmental resources, and thus may take greater action to protect and conserve ecosystem services. This is an especially important issue in rapidly developing parts of the world where development and expansion often conflict with natural resources, with few institutions to protect them. As a case study, we examine the setting of the Chitwan Valley of Nepal, a rural farming region in Nepal with a growing urban center. We test how in-migration and labor out-migration shape households’ relationships to direct consumption of natural resources. Because labor migration provides remittances that can be used to buy market-based substitutes for directly produced natural resources, we expect that labor out-migration reduces households’ direct consumption of natural resources. In addition, we expect that new in-migrant households, who have been attracted to Chitwan for its abundance of services and amenities, will also have lower levels of direct consumption than longer resident households.

Authors

• Scott Thomas Yabiku, Arizona State University

• Jennifer Elyse Glick, Arizona State University