Overseas Migration from Rural Bangladesh: Household and Meso-level Determinants

This article provides an empirical analysis of the household-level and meso-level determinants of overseas labor migration from rural Bangladesh. It moves beyond individual-level explanations to explore how the characteristics of households and the wider community (meso-level) shape migration decisions. The study is based on a quantitative analysis of household survey data. The research examines key household-level determinants, such as household size, asset ownership, and access to social networks. It also investigates the importance of meso-level factors, such as the level of development in the community, the presence of established migration networks, and the role of local recruitment intermediaries. The paper's findings are then used to build a more nuanced and multi-level understanding of the drivers of migration. The analysis concludes that the decision to migrate is not just an individual choice but is deeply embedded in the social and economic context of the household and the community.

Why do some households in rural Bangladesh send migrants abroad while others do not? This paper seeks to answer this question through a detailed, multi-level empirical analysis of the determinants of overseas migration. The study begins by developing a theoretical framework that integrates both household-level and meso-level (community-level) variables. The core of the article is an econometric analysis of a large household survey dataset. At the household level, the statistical results likely show that larger households, those with a greater number of working-age members, are more likely to send a migrant. The paper would also analyze the complex role of household assets, exploring whether it is the poorest or the middle-income households that are most likely to migrate. A key focus of the study is the powerful role of social networks; the findings would almost certainly demonstrate that a household's probability of sending a migrant increases dramatically if they already have relatives or neighbors who have migrated. The second part of the analysis focuses on the meso-level determinants. The paper would examine how community-level characteristics, such as the local agricultural economy and the presence and density of migration brokers, influence migration outcomes. The findings from this multi-level analysis provide a much richer and more complete picture of the migration process than a purely individual-level study. The paper concludes that migration is a socially-embedded process, and effective migration policies must take into account these crucial household and community-level dynamics.