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The Impact of Rural-Urban Migration on Subjective Well-Being in South Africa

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  • Kirsten Mulcahy
  • Umakrishnan Kollamparambil

Abstract

This paper quantifies the short to medium term impact of rural-urban migration on an individual’s subjective well-being in South Africa between 2008 and 2012. We work through different econometric specifications; using instrumental variables to control for endogeneity caused by shock-induced self-selection, and Propensity Score Matching to control for migration self-selection bias. We find that rural-urban migration leads to a decrease in subjective well-being by 8.3 per cent. We suspect that the decreased well-being is a result of false expectations and changing relative groups used to peg aspirations, as well as the emotional cost of being away from family and a home environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Kirsten Mulcahy & Umakrishnan Kollamparambil, 2016. "The Impact of Rural-Urban Migration on Subjective Well-Being in South Africa," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(9), pages 1357-1371, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:52:y:2016:i:9:p:1357-1371
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2016.1171844
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    1. Alpaslan Akay & Corrado Giulietti & Juan Robalino & Klaus Zimmermann, 2014. "Remittances and well-being among rural-to-urban migrants in China," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 517-546, September.
    2. McKenzie, David & Sasin, Marcin J., 2007. "Migration, remittances, poverty, and human capital : conceptual and empirical challenges," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4272, The World Bank.
    3. Beata Nowok & Maarten van Ham & Allan M Findlay & Vernon Gayle, 2013. "Does Migration Make You Happy? A Longitudinal Study of Internal Migration and Subjective Well-Being," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(4), pages 986-1002, April.
    4. Michael Rogan & Likani Lebani & Nompumelelo Nzimande, 2009. "Internal Migration and Poverty in KwaZulu-Natal: Findings from Censuses, Labour Force Surveys and Panel Data," SALDRU Working Papers 30, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tuki, Daniel, 2025. "Family Support and Migration in Nigeria," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 60(1), pages 127-145.
    3. Greyling, Talita & Fisher, Bianca, 2020. "Women’s optimism, the gender happiness equaliser: a case of South Africa," GLO Discussion Paper Series 472, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    4. Jing Jian Xiao & Piotr Bialowolski, 2023. "Consumer Financial Capability and Quality of Life: a Global Perspective," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(1), pages 365-391, February.
    5. Hendriks, Martijn & Burger, Martijn J., 2021. "Happiness and Migration," GLO Discussion Paper Series 842, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. De, Prabal K. & Thamarapani, Dhanushka, 2022. "Impacts of negative shocks on wellbeing and aspirations – Evidence from an earthquake," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    7. Zheng, Xiaodong & Zhou, Yanran, 2025. "Earlier move, greater joy: Migration timing and subjective well-being among rural migrants in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    8. Michael C. Ewers & Abdoulaye Diop & Kien Trung Le & Lina Bader, 2020. "Migrant Worker Well-Being and Its Determinants: The Case of Qatar," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 137-163, November.
    9. Rajkumar, Vidya Bharathi, 2021. "Male Migration and the Emergence of Female Farm Management in India," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315329, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    10. Umakrishnan Kollamparambil, 2021. "Socio-Economic Inequality of Wellbeing: A Comparison of Switzerland and South Africa," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 555-574, February.
    11. Rodrigo Cardoso & Evert Meijers & Maarten van Ham & Martijn Burger & Duco de Vos, 2019. "Why bright city lights dazzle and illuminate: A cognitive science approach to urban promises," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(2), pages 452-470, February.
    12. Wang, Wenlue & Ren, Qian & Yu, Jin, 2018. "Impact of the ecological resettlement program on participating decision and poverty reduction in southern Shaanxi, China," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 1-9.

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