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Internal Migration of Blacks in South Africa: An Application of the Roy Model

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  • Chung Choe
  • E. LaBrent Chrite

Abstract

This study investigates the internal migration of black males in South Africa over the period after the formal end of Apartheid using the 1996 census data. The two issues of our primary interests are the following: (i) whether migration patterns of black individuals are consistent with the income-maximising hypothesis as related to the destination choice; and (ii) whether the redistribution of human capital is detected in internal migration. The results from conditional logit regressions on choices among individuals in 318 districts show that individuals prefer districts with higher expected wages, conditional on other regional characteristics. In addition, there exist differing preferences on the share of population with post-secondary education by individuals with commensurate educational attainments. Black individuals with post-secondary education tend to migrate into areas with a higher share of population with post-secondary education and vice versa, which confirms the divergence of human capital levels across districts.

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  • Chung Choe & E. LaBrent Chrite, 2014. "Internal Migration of Blacks in South Africa: An Application of the Roy Model," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 82(1), pages 81-98, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:sajeco:v:82:y:2014:i:1:p:81-98
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    Cited by:

    1. Dieter von Fintel & Eldridge Moses, 2017. "Migration and gender in South Africa: following bright lights and the fortunes of others?," Working Papers 09/2017, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics, revised 2018.

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