Migrants, Towns, Poverty and Jobs: Insights from Tanzania

Abstract

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Coping Strategies of the Urban Poor: A Case Study From Ghana

“…Also, there is the indirect benefit of urbanization through remittances and increased pressure on agricultural wages, improved economic output, and the consequent reduction in poverty. This is consistent with the theoretical foundation of the benefits of agglomeration for economic prosperity and that urban growth is required for accelerated inclusive growth, especially if it maximizes employment for the poor (Christiaensen, De Weerdt, Ingelaere, & Kanbur, 2018;Henderson, 2010;Boyle et al, 2010;World Bank, 2001). These views are consistent with the classical authors' (Arthur Lewis and Simon Kuznets) theories of economic development, where urbanization and industrialization are identified as critical ingredients of economic growth.…”

“…In a later study of Tanzania, Christiaensen et al (2018) and Christiaensen, De Weerdt, and Kanbur (2019) report that movement to big cities was less effective in promoting poverty reduction compared to the movement to towns. Thus, they argue for the importance of the “missing middle” (small towns with a dynamic agricultural sector), which has been ignored in the literature.…”

Urbanization and structural transformation

“…Nonetheless, given that rural-rural migration is more prevalent than rural-urban migration in Ethiopia and that ruralurban migration is characterized predominantly by push factors, an increased focus on the rural and small-town, nonfarm economy may be a more viable avenue to absorb excess rural labor, diversify rural income sources, and reduce seasonal consumption shortfalls as a medium-term rural development strategy. Christiaensen et al (2018) find that in Tanzania, migration to towns contributed more to poverty reduction compared to migration to cities.…”

Determinants of migration among rural youth throughout the world

“…As the literature largely demonstrates migration is poverty reducing, policies that help foster positive outcomes from either internal or international migration may be quite cost-effective ways to reduce rural poverty. For example, investments in secondary cities or towns may be particularly beneficial, since available evidence suggests that poorer migrants tend to move to destinations that are closer to home (Ingelaere et al, 2017;Christiaensen et al, 2018). Improving access to technical and/or vocational education can also help young potential migrants find employment in sectors already in demand.…”