Rural-urban migration in Bihar : a case study of the Village Saurath

Abstract

This thesis undertakes both a comparative study and a logistical regression analysis on household level data from Saurath, India, to better understand the inducing factors of outmigration. A considerable body of literature related to migration already exists; however, this study contributes to the literature by providing a case study of migration in Bihar, a state that is in the process of an economic transformation. This thesis determines that migration from Saurath is occurring within the middle-class; this is an interesting finding because migrants typically come from more economically depressed groups. The departure of individuals from the middle-class indicates a shift in village life that could have profound consequences in the decades to come. Additionally, from the regression analysis: caste, local occupation, and local household income per capita, are significant inducing factors of rural-urban migration in Saurath. Any organization or individual interested in understanding the phenomena of rural-urban migration may find compelling insights from this thesis, and it is hoped that further exploration of the topic occurs in the near future. Keywords: India, Bihar, Saurath, migration, remittances, caste, economic development, logistic regression