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COVID-19 Led Return to Kerala: A Comparative Analysis of Return Emigrants

Author

Listed:
  • S. Irudaya Rajan

    (International Institute of Migration and Development)

  • Balasubramanyam Pattath

    (The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies)

Abstract

This article concerns emigrants who returned to Kerala between May and December 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We study and document the experiences of 1985 return emigrants (REM) through a quantitative survey conducted via Computer-Assisted Telephonic Interviews. The study utilises a comparative classificatory framework that categorises return emigrants into three groups: normal REM, distressed REM, and REM who returned to re-emigrate. While the REM have been a demographically, politically, and economically significant component of Kerala’s population, the COVID-19 REM represent a unique case in history that has the potential to not only affect the economy, society, and psyche of Kerala for many years to come, but to also provide valuable insights into the future of global labor migration governance.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Irudaya Rajan & Balasubramanyam Pattath, 2024. "COVID-19 Led Return to Kerala: A Comparative Analysis of Return Emigrants," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 67(2), pages 389-405, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijlaec:v:67:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s41027-024-00497-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s41027-024-00497-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Djajic, Slobodan & Milbourne, Ross, 1988. "A general equilibrium model of guest-worker migration : The source-country perspective," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(3-4), pages 335-351, November.
    2. K. P. Kannan & K. S. Hari, 2020. "Revisiting Kerala’s Gulf Connection: Half a Century of Emigration, Remittances and Their Macroeconomic Impact, 1972–2020," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 63(4), pages 941-967, December.
    3. Dierx, Adriaan H., 1988. "A life-cycle model of repeat migration," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 383-397, August.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Return migrants; Remittances; Kerala;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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