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Internal Migration Patterns in Pakistan—The Case for Fiscal Decentralisation

Author

Listed:
  • Mahreen Mahmud

    (Centre for Research in Economics and Business, Lahore School of Economics)

  • Tareena Musaddiq

    (Lahore University of Management Sciences)

  • Farah Said

    (Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore)

Abstract

This paper analyses the degree of integration between provinces in Pakistan through the internal migration patterns in the country. It establishes empirically the rationality of both urban-urban and rural-urban migrants in the country who are found to respond to economic incentives when choosing the destination district. Internal migration in the last ten years stands at a mere 2.3 percent, with less than a quarter of these people moving across provinces. This trend shows little or no improvement over time, hinting at the continued rigidity of provincial boundaries. An in-depth look at the migration patterns reveals that the concentration of flows is towards the provincial and federal capitals (56 percent). In light of fiscal decentralisation, this unipolar migration trend highlights the importance of fair and equitable resource distribution amongst provinces

Suggested Citation

  • Mahreen Mahmud & Tareena Musaddiq & Farah Said, 2010. "Internal Migration Patterns in Pakistan—The Case for Fiscal Decentralisation," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 49(4), pages 593-607.
    • Handle: RePEc:pid:journl:v:49:y:2010:i:4:p:593-607
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Heman D. Lohano, "undated". "Weather Variability, Agricultural Revenues and Internal Migration: Evidence from Pakistan," Working papers 99, The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics.
    2. Naghmana Ghafoor & Mehr-Un-Nisa & Muhammad Riaz Akbar, 2022. "Socioeconomic Determinants of Migration in the City of Lahore, Pakistan," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(4), pages 3029-3049, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labour Mobility; Fiscal Decentralisation;

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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