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When distance drives destination, towns can stimulate development

Author

Listed:
  • Joachim De Weerdt
  • Luc Christiaensen
  • Ravi Kanbur

Abstract

While city migrants see their welfare increase much more than those moving to towns, many more rural-urban migrants end up in towns. This phenomenon, documented in detail in Kagera, Tanzania, begs the question why migrants move to seemingly suboptimal destinations. Using an 18-year panel of individuals from this region and information on the possible destinations from the census, this study documents, through dyadic regressions and controlling for individual heterogeneity, how the deterrence of further distance to cities (compared to towns) largely trumps the attraction from their promise of greater wealth, making towns more appealing destinations. Education mitigates these e ects (lesser deterrence from distance; greater attraction from wealth), while poverty reduces the attraction of wealth, consistent with the notion of urban sorting. With about two thirds of the rural population in low-income countries living within two hours from a town, these ndings underscore the importance of vibrant towns for inclusive development.

Suggested Citation

  • Joachim De Weerdt & Luc Christiaensen & Ravi Kanbur, 2021. "When distance drives destination, towns can stimulate development," Working Papers of LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance 671347, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance.
    • Handle: RePEc:ete:licosp:671347
    Note: paper number 423/2021
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Luc Christiaensen & Keenan,Michael, 2025. "How Do Migrants Fare in Africa’s Urban Labor Markets ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11052, The World Bank.
    3. Rana, Md. Sohel & Qaim, Matin, 2024. "Patterns of temporary rural migration: A study in northern Bangladesh," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    4. Luc Christiaensen & Miet Maertens, 2022. "Rural Employment in Africa," World Bank Publications - Reports 37023, The World Bank Group.
    5. Basu, Arnab K. & Chau, Nancy H. & Lin, Gary C., 2022. "Migration Gravity, Networks, and Unemployment," IZA Discussion Papers 15808, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Cattaneo, Andrea & Adukia, Anjali & Brown, David L. & Christiaensen, Luc & Evans, David K. & Haakenstad, Annie & McMenomy, Theresa & Partridge, Mark & Vaz, Sara & Weiss, Daniel J., 2022. "Economic and social development along the urban–rural continuum: New opportunities to inform policy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    7. Fabry, Anna & Maertens, Miet, 2025. "Temporary labor mobility to various geographical and sectoral destinations improves rural incomes − Insights from Peru," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    8. Rana, Sohel & Faye, Amy, 2024. "Destination choices during internal temporary migration: Evidence from northern Bangladesh," Discussion Papers 348395, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    9. Tripathi, Sabyasachi & Mitra, Arup, 2022. "Shedding light on unnoticed gems in India: A small town’s growth perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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