A Longitudinal Study of Migration and Health: Empirical Evidence from Thailand and its Implications
The study finds that rural-urban migration in Thailand depended on the individual’s health. The likelihood of migrating from a rural origin to an urban destination was higher for those who had better physical health but poorer mental health. Compared to residents in urban destinations, migrants were, on average, physically and mentally healthier upon arrival, or up to two years after migrating. Their health, nevertheless, deteriorated within two to four years after migration. By using multilevel modelling, migration was found to affect an individual’s physical health positively in the short-run, but negatively in the long run. Migration impacts on mental health were similar, but weak, and insignificant when controlled by other factors. Based on empirical findings from Thailand, the applicability of a longitudinal design for migration and health studies in different contexts of developing countries is discussed. China in particular—as the fastest growing economy in the developing world and a country that is currently facing a huge flow of domestic rural-urban migration—is considered in the discussion.
Reading Development 