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Balancing Skilled with Unskilled Migration in an Urbanizing Agricultural Economy

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  • Nguyen, Thinh T.
  • Saito, Hisamitsu
  • Isoda, Hiroshi
  • Ito, Shoichi

Abstract

In the early stages of economic development, the migration of unskilled workers contributes to labor-intensive manufacturing production. In middle-income countries, however, the migration of skilled workers becomes the more important factor in economic progress. Evaluating the skill content of migration patterns therefore is essential to understanding migration’s economic implications. For this purpose, we investigate the determinants of skilled and unskilled migration decisions in Vietnam. Rural higher education is shown to promote knowledge-intensive production by encouraging skilled individuals to migrate to cities. In complementary fashion, commercial farm development helps alleviate urban overcrowding by encouraging unskilled individuals to remain at home.

Suggested Citation

  • Nguyen, Thinh T. & Saito, Hisamitsu & Isoda, Hiroshi & Ito, Shoichi, 2015. "Balancing Skilled with Unskilled Migration in an Urbanizing Agricultural Economy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 457-467.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:66:y:2015:i:c:p:457-467
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.09.015
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    Cited by:

    1. Briones, Roehlano M., 2017. "Characterization of Agricultural Workers in the Philippines," Discussion Papers DP 2017-31, Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
    2. Dao Duy Minh & Philippe Lebailly & Nguyen Dang Hao & Philippe Burny & Ho Thi Minh Hop, 2019. "The Dynamics of Livelihood Vulnerability Index at Farm Household Level: An Empirical Analysis of the Coastal Sandy Zone in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 9(5), pages 77-89.
    3. Fox, Stephen, 2016. "Leapfrog skills: Combining vertical and horizontal multi-skills to overcome skill trade-offs that limit prosperity growth," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 129-139.
    4. Roehlano M. Briones, 2017. "Characterization Of Agricultural Workers In The Philippines," Working Papers id:12308, eSocialSciences.
    5. Dao Duy Minh & Philippe Lebailly & Nguyen Dang Hao & Ho Thi Minh Hop, 2019. "The Evolution of Migration: The Case of Coastal Sandy Zone in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 9(4), pages 156-165.

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