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Paper short abstract

Using a three wave multipurpose panel data collected in 2015, 2017 and 2022, we find that internal migration decisions increase household consumption, and finally reduces poverty and food insecurity. The results also showed considerable heterogeneity across gender and motivation for migration.

Paper long abstract

Migration decisions serve as welfare improvement strategy in low-income households in developing countries. However, there is scanty evidence on the impact of internal migration decisions on welfare of low-income households in developing countries. This study examines the impact of internal migration decisions on poverty and food security of the left behind households in rural communities of Northern Ghana. The study relied on a three-wave multipurpose panel data collected from 2,141 poor households. Using correlated random effects (CRE) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) estimations, we found that internal migration decisions statistically and significantly increase food consumption, and also reduce poverty and household food insecurity. The results also showed considerable heterogeneity with female headed households obtaining higher benefits from internal migration decisions compared to male headed households. The results also show that migration decisions solely for work purposes have higher welfare impact compared to migration decisions due to other reasons including marriage and set up of new household. We also found that migrants sending remittances to the left behind households lead to higher welfare impact compared to their counterparts who do not send remittances. However, we do not find statistically significant differences in the welfare outcomes based on the number of male migrants versus that of female migrants. The study concludes that policies and programmes targeting internal migration decisions could improve the welfare of left-behind vulnerable households in developing countries.