The Effect of Labor Migration on Household and Family Structure in Nang Rong, Thailand

Gretchen Livingston, Princeton University

There has been much speculation, as well as some empirical research, regarding the consequences of outmigration on sending regions in less developed regions. Much of the research that does exist has focused on migration’s direct impact on economic development. Some research (e.g., Hugo’s work on Indonesia) has also examined the effects of migration on demographic structure and the family, but empirical analyses on this topic are sparse, due largely to limited data resources. We are interested in examining how these changes are affecting those ‘left behind’ in the sending regions. Given that demographic and household structures have socio-economic and normative implications, our results will provide the first step in a comprehensive analysis of the consequences of migration on aging, caregiving, and intergenerational relationships within families in rural sending regions.