The Impact of Rural-Urban Migration on Subjective Well-Being in South Africa. Issue 9 (1st September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mulcahy, Kirsten; Kollamparambil, Umakrishnan
• Is Part Of: Journal of development studies. Volume 52:Issue 9(2016)
• Page Start: 1357
• Page End: 1371
• Publication Date: 2016-09-01
• Subjects: Economic development -- Periodicals; Economic history -- 1945- -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Développement économique -- Périodiques; Histoire économique -- 1945- -- Périodiques; Pays en voie de développement -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; 338.91
• DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2016.1171844
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0388

Abstract

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.