Internal Migration and Household Income Dynamics: Evidence from Southwestern Bangladesh

This study examines the determinants of internal migration in Koyra Upazila, Bangladesh, focusing on the socio-economic, demographic, and environmental factors influencing household decisions to migrate. Primary data were collected from 200 households using a structured questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive statistics and a binary logit model. Results show that temporary migration (56%) is more common than permanent migration (44%), with migrants remitting slightly more on average than non-migrants. Migrant households report significantly higher income and savings, with remittances primarily directed toward consumption, house repair, and land investment. The regression analysis identifies gender, accommodation type, monthly income, savings, and loan-taking as key determinants of migration: males are more likely to migrate, while accommodation ownership reduces mobility; higher income, greater savings, and indebtedness increase the probability of migration. Pull factors such as higher wages, labor demand, and access to education and healthcare also significantly drive migration, whereas age, education, and family size show positive but insignificant effects. The findings support the New Economics of Labor Migration framework, suggesting that migration functions as a household strategy for income diversification, debt repayment, and livelihood security in disaster-prone contexts. Policy recommendations include strengthening microfinance services to finance migration sustainably, promoting productive use of remittances through financial literacy, and enhancing housing security to reduce distress-driven migration.