Heterogeneous migration flows from the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso: the role of natural and social capital

This paper uses a system of labour supply equations and data from Burkina Faso collected in 2003 to test the conditions underlying two different migratory movements: continental and intercontinental migration. We provide theoretical reasoning and empirical evidence that heterogeneity in migration is related to heterogeneity in rural households. We find that comparatively asset-poor households embark on continental migration, whereas intercontinental migration takes place in comparatively wealthy households in response to opportunities for accumulation of wealth in Europe. We also find that access to religion-specific migrant networks plays a positive and negative role in explaining, respectively, intercontinental and continental migratio

Survival or Accumulation : Migration and rural households in Burkina Faso

Migration plays an important role in development and as a strategy for poverty reduction. Burkina Faso, a country where conditions for agriculture are far from favourable, has a long history of migratory movement. Migration within West Africa (continental migration) has since long taken place in response to drought and low agricultural productivity. Migration to destinations outside the African continent and in particular to Western Europe (intercontinental migration) has become more important over the last decades for migrants from Burkina Faso. This study provides a quantitative analysis of the determinants and effects of migration for rural households in four villages on the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso. It sheds new light on the migration-remittances-development debate by analysing migration from a whole-household perspective combining determinants and consequences of migration; by including both the production and the consumption side of the rural household economy in an imperfect market environment; and by allowing for heterogeneity in migration through a distinction of two different migratory movements: continental and intercontinental migration. An extended farm household model that includes a migration component forms the basis of the econometric analysis of cross-section data from 223 households. Findings reveal that the two migratory movements are indeed different strategic decisions. Households with intercontinental migrants are able to overcome entry constraints that exist for this more lucrative (in terms of remittances) form of migration because of their wealth. In an imperfect market environment remittances from intercontinental migration help these households to overcome entry constraints existing for other activities and to greatly improve their welfare. Continental migrants appear to be pushed out due to insufficient land and consumption pressure. Loss of labour negatively influences income generated in labour-intensive activities and household welfare only slightly improves due to the migration induced reduction in household size

Migration in Burkina Faso

Migration plays an important role in development and as a strategy for poverty reduction. A recent World Bank investigation finds a significant positive relationship between international migration and poverty reduction at the country level (Adams and Page 2003). Burkina Faso, whose conditions for agriculture are far from favorable, has a long history of migratory movement, and migration within West Africa has long taken place in response to drought and low agricultural productivity. In recent decades, migration to destinations outside the African continent and in particular to Western Europe has become more important for migrants from Burkina Faso. Migration can be considered a livelihood diversification strategy because remittances resulting from migration constitute an income source that is uncorrelated with household income from agriculture. Migration affects the sending household in three ways. First, when a household member migrates, the household loses labor. Second, migration often results in remittances. Third, migration implies a reduction in household size for consumption. It is likely that both motives for and consequences of migration will differ by whether the destination is within Africa or outside Africa. Migration to destinations outside Africa is expensive in terms of transport costs but generates a comparatively high level of remittances for the household. This case study discusses the determinants and consequences of migration for households in four villages situated on the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso. Two forms of migration are distinguished: migration within Africa (continental migration) and migration to a destination outside Africa (intercontinental migration). A critical question is what happens to the welfare of rural households when they engage in either form of migration. When households lose labor, it may be harder for them to participate in and generate income from other activities such as agriculture. Remittances may partly compensate for these negative effects. In addition, a reduction in household size means less consumption pressure on the household. Considering the welfare impacts of both forms of migration and the wider policy environment, your assignment is to consider how policy could be directed toward enhancing the role of migration in local development

Migration and Income Diversification: Evidence from Burkina Faso

This paper uses limited-dependent variable methods and new data from Burkina Faso to test the impact of inter-continental and continental migration on activity choice and incomes in rural households. Econometric evidence supports our theoretical expectation that the impact of emigration varies both by migrant destination and production activity. We find no evidence of either positive or negative effects of continental migration on agricultural or livestock activities, and only a small negative impact on non-farm activities. However, inter-continental migration, which tends to be long term and generates significantly larger remittances, stimulates livestock production while being negatively associated with both staple and non-farm activities