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Migration as a risky enterprise: A diagnostic for Bangladesh

Author

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  • Das, Narayan
  • de Janvry, Alain
  • Mahmood, Sakib
  • Sadoulet, Elisabeth

Abstract

We provide here a diagnostic of migration of Bangladeshi workers to foreign countries. We show that migration is an important contributor to the economy of Bangladesh and to the welfare of migrants, largely male workers from poor rural households. Based on high intensity recall data, we evidence, however, that migration failures may be as high as one third of attempts at migrating, with large financial losses for households with a failed migrant. The main causes of failure appear to be abuse by fraudulent agents and financial constraints. Failed migrants tend to have lesser support from community migrant networks and to be from more rural environments. Providing assistance to candidates to migration could thus be a major welfare enhancing initiative.

Suggested Citation

  • Das, Narayan & de Janvry, Alain & Mahmood, Sakib & Sadoulet, Elisabeth, 2014. "Migration as a risky enterprise: A diagnostic for Bangladesh," Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley, Working Paper Series qt6574658k, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdl:agrebk:qt6574658k
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sharma, Manohar & Zaman, Hassan, 2009. "Who migrates overseas and is it worth their while ? an assessment of household survey data from Bangladesh," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5018, The World Bank.
    2. Gharad Bryan & Shyamal Chowdhury & A. Mushfiq Mobarak, 2011. "Seasonal Migration and Risk Aversion," Working Papers id:4650, eSocialSciences.
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    Cited by:

    1. World Bank, 2016. "Bangladesh Social Protection and Labor Review," World Bank Publications - Reports 25265, The World Bank Group.
    2. Md. Hashibul Hassan & Lubna Jebin, 2018. "Comparative Capability of Migrant and Non-Migrant Households: Evidence from Rural Bangladesh," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(5), pages 618-640, May.
    3. Thomas Farole & Yoonyoung Cho & Laurent Bossavie & Reyes Aterido, 2017. "Bangladesh Jobs Diagnostic," World Bank Publications - Reports 28498, The World Bank Group.

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