Research themes
We used micro-surveys, qualitative research and panel-data analysis to explore the sequence of life events and livelihood strategies that can lead to downward slides into poverty, as well as an escape from it.
Our themes
The focus of Migrating out of Poverty research is to understand the relationship between migration and poverty and the factors that mediate it.
Our research explores three themes: gender and generation, income and remittances, and the migration industry. We have previous work on policy processes, looking at how policy is formed. We also continue to publish our quantitative data for other researchers to use.
- Gender and generation
There’s a common misconception that migration is a male issue. This may be due to weaknesses in data collection, spanning from failing to capture the migration forms in which women are more likely to engage – including shorter-term, seasonal, internal and circular migration – to constructing migrants as non-gendered while privileging the male experience.
Our projects in Bangladesh, Ghana and Indonesia have shed new light on the complexities surrounding norms and practices guiding the responsibilities of different household members, dependencies and interdependencies within families and migration.
We have analysed the situation of both men and women and through relating the observed practices to the gender positions available in their local society, as well as to the norms sketching these positions, we have identified some of the responsibilities and freedoms migration involve for migrants and for those staying behind.
We analysed the wider and more long-term outcome for the social positions of adult and young men and women prompted by migration, access to income and/or remittances and the investments these may incur. This more detailed gender analysis helped us unpack what factors motivate the migration of particular social categories and the immediate and long-term impact of migration and the shifts to which it may lead. Evidence from the three case studies has potential interest for policy targeting development, gender equality, youth and migration, among others.
- Income and remittances
Existing evidence supports the view that migration and remittances increase the income of migrant households and reduce poverty. The impact on income inequality is more contested. However, such findings should be treated with caution as the poverty-reducing impact depends on the country and type of migration flow: remittances are more likely to have a poverty-reducing effect when received by poorer households. In addition, not all migrant-sending households receive remittances. Hence, migration does not always have positive and poverty-reducing impacts on household levels.
To investigate whether migration improves consumption expenditure of migrant-sending households, consumption expenditure for households with and without migrants needs to be compared. Instead of simply comparing households with and without migrants, we developed a counterfactual scenario which artificially constructs what the consumption expenditure of a household with migrants might have been had the migrant stayed at home. This is then compared with the observed expenditure.
We have gained considerable expertise in collecting quantitative household data on migration, with household surveys conducted in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Ghana. These surveys of around 1,200 households in each country provide useful profiles of migrants, allow us to compare migrant-sending households with the broader population and to draw comparisons across countries. Preliminary results suggest that, on average, there are net benefits to migration: households with migrants are on average better off than they would have been if their migrant member had stayed at home.
- Migration industry
Our research is on the networks, organisations and individuals that facilitate migration – collectively known as the migration industry – with a focus on brokerage. Brokerage is widespread, especially in migration that involves poorer people who lack the resources and social networks needed to navigate complex border controls; finance their migration; attain the required papers; establish credibility with employers and access accommodation and government services at destination. In international migration, brokerage has become more widespread and more institutionalised as a response to tightening migration regulations where some of the functions of vetting and recruitment have been outsourced by governments.
The structure of the migration industry is very much embedded in class, kinship and gender relations in the different contexts and has therefore evolved differently. In Ghana, it derives from cultural norms of reciprocity and in the case of children working as domestic workers – the tradition of fosterage. In Bangladesh, it derives from traditional patron-client relationships and notions of trust and obligation. In Indonesia, too, it is based on local and cultural notions of trust and legitimacy.
Brokers have often been blamed for exploitation and forcing migrants into unfree work conditions. Yet informal brokers are important in all three locations and the industry shows a good deal of flexibility in response to the agency of migrants and changes in regulations and market conditions. Migration costs can be extremely high, but migrants typically take a long-term view where these are factored in as a cost that is to be paid for a better future. However, risks are uninsured and this can result in losses.
- Migration data
In recent years there have been significant improvements in the availability and use of migration data. However, gaps remain that hinder the extent to which conclusions can be drawn about the relationships between migration and poverty. Data on internal migration remains particularly patchy which in turn limits development of appropriate policies.
The migration data research stream focuses on developing new databases on migration and remittances to provide a critical resource for migration researchers globally and to provide insights into internal, regional and international migration and poverty. Find out more and read our research.
- Policy processes
Our policy process work has focused on the policy environment in South Africa and the policy process in Singapore and Bangladesh. It has been structured around the 3i analytical framework of institutions, ideas and interests, employing process-tracing methods.
The research in Singapore on the formulation and adoption of a day-off policy for migrant domestic workers highlights the key role played by NGOs in keeping the agenda in the public eye. It identifies the reasons for the policy eventually being adopted, including the government’s desire to be perceived as a country willing to adopt international guidelines on decent work as well as maintaining the reputation of Singapore as a desirable destination for domestic workers in the face of a decline in migrant numbers.
The research in South Africa on the making of the 2013 Trafficking in Persons Act highlighted the weaknesses in data, extensive reliance on myths and stereotypes related to victims and perpetrators among organisations working on trafficking.
The Bangladesh case study of the passing of the Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy showed how elite coalitions between civil servants, bureaucrats and employers led to delays in the recognition of the rights of domestic workers and the adoption of protective policies. The three case studies reveal the uncertain role of evidence in shaping decisions and the interplay between international policy agendas and local priorities.