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Migration and nutrition of the left behind: Evidence from Ghana

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  • Gosselin-Pali, Adrien

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of migration on the nutritional outcomes of the left behind—individuals who previously co-resided with a migrant. Utilizing longitudinal data from Ghana and employing a combination of kernel matching and difference-in-differences, I find that internal migration negatively impacts the nutritional status of left-behind individuals, particularly children. Although remittances do not reliably offset these negative effects, they can potentially contribute to improved outcomes for left-behind children in the long run. The primary channel driving the adverse nutritional impact on left-behind children is the short-term disruptive effect caused by migration, which may lead to a negative income shock. This shock could have lasting consequences for children’s growth trajectories.

Suggested Citation

  • Gosselin-Pali, Adrien, 2025. "Migration and nutrition of the left behind: Evidence from Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:188:y:2025:i:c:s0305750x24003231
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106853
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Migration; Nutrition; Left-behind; Ghana;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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