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Household Migration Decisions as Survival Strategy: The Case of Burkina Faso

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  • Adama Konseiga

Abstract

This article examines the motivations behind the important migration from Burkina Faso to Cote d'Ivoire, the economic pole in the West African Economic and Monetary Union. This article uses a detailed household survey data set on migration, natural resource management, risk management and solidarity collected in 2000 and 2002 in northeastern Burkina Faso. In addition to the household survey, two other village and institutional level surveys were conducted. The methodology emphasises the linkage between economic theories and empirical evidence, using econometric tools that are robust both to the selection and standard error bias. It enables to study the specificities of the seasonal migration and estimate migration incomes. The structural model of migration decision revealed the importance of migration as a unique survival strategy in the study regions confronted with severe scarcity of natural resources. Results supported that even under the pessimistic scenario where the direct benefits of the regional integration programme would go exclusively to the polar economy, households in the Sahel may still benefit from an increased economic attractiveness of this destination. Therefore, the study recommended enforcing regional laws as regards to the free movement of labour. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Adama Konseiga, 2007. "Household Migration Decisions as Survival Strategy: The Case of Burkina Faso," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 16(2), pages 198-233, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:16:y:2007:i:2:p:198-233
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    10. A. Gentili, 2013. "Migration Costs and Networks: household optimal investment in migration," Working Papers wp867, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    11. Mario Liebensteiner, 2014. "Estimating the Income Gain of Seasonal Labor Migration," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(4), pages 667-680, November.
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    13. Joseph, George & Wodon, Quentin & Blankespoor, Brian, 2014. "Do Remittances Reach Households Living in Unfavorable Climate Areas? Evidence from the Republic of Yemen," MPRA Paper 56939, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Shafei Gu & Eric Fong, 2022. "Migration from Muslim-Majority Countries: A Tale of Two Patterns," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(4), pages 1853-1872, August.
    15. Naudé, Wim, 2009. "Geography, transport and Africa’s proximity gap," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 1-9.
    16. Dennis Görlich & Christoph Trebesch, 2008. "Seasonal Migration and Networks—Evidence on Moldova’s Labour Exodus," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 144(1), pages 107-133, April.
    17. Wim Naudé, 2008. "Conflict, Disasters, and No Jobs: Reasons for International Migration from Sub-Saharan Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2008-85, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    18. Wouterse, Fleur, 2012. "Migration and Rural Welfare: The Impact of Potential Policy Reforms in Europe," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(12), pages 2427-2439.
    19. Bouba Traore & Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu & Seydou Sangaré & Murali Krishna Gumma & Ramadjita Tabo & Anthony Michael Whitbread, 2021. "Contribution of Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies to Food Self-Sufficiency of Smallholder Households in Mali," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-17, July.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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