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Migration and economic activity at origin: the role of female household headship in rural Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Marup Hossain

    (International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD))

  • Conner Mullally

    (University of Florida)

  • Gulcan Onel

    (University of Florida)

Abstract

In a male-dominated international migration system, women are more likely to head households after the exit of migrants. We decompose the impact of sending an international migrant into an effect attributable to a change in the gender of the household head and other mechanisms. We find that the effect attributable to a shift from a male-to-a female household head due to migration is negative for economic activities and expenditure indicators. Our results suggest that some households are forced to weigh the benefits of sending an international migrant against the costs of switching to a female household head.

Suggested Citation

  • Marup Hossain & Conner Mullally & Gulcan Onel, 2024. "Migration and economic activity at origin: the role of female household headship in rural Bangladesh," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 66(4), pages 1757-1818, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:66:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s00181-023-02500-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-023-02500-z
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International migration; Remittances; Female headship;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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