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International migration and dietary diversity of left-behind households: evidence from India

Author

Listed:
  • Pooja Batra

    (Jindal Global Business School
    Tata Steel Foundation)

  • Ajay Sharma

    (Indian Institute of Management Indore
    Global Labor Organization)

Abstract

In this paper, we analyse the impact of international migration on the food consumption and dietary diversity of left-behind households. Using the Kerala migration survey 2011, we study whether households with emigrants (on account of international migration) have higher consumption expenditure and improved dietary diversity than their non-migrating counterparts. We use ordinary least square and instrumental variable approach to answer this question. The key findings are that: a) emigrant households have higher overall consumption expenditure as well as higher expenditure on food; b) we find that international migration leads to increase in the dietary diversity of left behind households. Further, we explore the effect on food sub-group expenditure for both rural and urban households. We find that emigrant households spend more on protein (milk, pulses and egg, fish and meat), at the same time there is higher spending on non-healthy food habits (processed and ready to eat food items) among them.

Suggested Citation

  • Pooja Batra & Ajay Sharma, 2025. "International migration and dietary diversity of left-behind households: evidence from India," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 17(3), pages 543-557, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:17:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s12571-025-01540-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-025-01540-w
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International migration; Left-behind household; Dietary diversity; Consumption expenditure; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General

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