Are migrant families healthier than non-migrant families in India? A look into consumption expenditure and nutrient intake patterns

Migration is an important livelihood strategy for households with limited sources of income. It helps in the upward mobility of migrants and their families. Using a nationally representative cross-section data for India, we compare consumption expenditure and intake of calories and proteins of households which migrated with those which did not migrate. We also compare outcomes across households with and without a short-term migrant. Since the decision to migrate is itself affected by other factors, we use certain regional and demographic indicators as instruments. Valid instruments include location quotient (i.e. agglomeration of economic activities), estimates of population living in urban and peripheral urban areas and migrant flows into the district. Two-stage instrumental variable technique is used for analysis purposes. Our main finding is that migrant households and households without a short-term migrant have higher consumption expenditure, calorie and protein intake than their respective counterparts. Also migrant households in urban areas are found to be better off in terms of consumption and nutrient intake than those in rural areas.