Related Experiment Videos
Migration as a consumption activity
International Migration (Geneva, Switzerland)
|January 1, 1997
Summary
This study introduces a Location-Specific Utility Index (LSUI) to measure household utility changes from migration. Empirical evidence suggests migration is a consumption activity driven by utility maximization.
Area of Science:
- Economics
- Sociology
- Urban Studies
Background:
- Migration decision-making is often analyzed through utility maximization.
- Existing models may lack a universal measure for utility changes across diverse preferences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and test a novel instrument for measuring utility changes associated with household migration.
- To empirically validate the utility maximization hypothesis in household migration.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a Location-Specific Utility Index (LSUI) using observed behavior.
- LSUI components act as proxies for household utility function arguments.
- Testing the hypothesis that utility increases post-migration, assuming constant preferences and expanded opportunities.
Main Results:
- The empirical results align with the migration decisions of the households studied.
- The developed LSUI effectively captures changes in utility levels.
Conclusions:
- Household migration can be effectively modeled as a consumption activity aimed at maximizing utility.
- The LSUI provides a viable tool for assessing utility-driven migration.
Keywords:
AmericasBehaviorConsumptionDecision MakingDemographic FactorsDeveloped CountriesEconomic FactorsFamily And HouseholdHouseholdsMacroeconomic FactorsMigration, InternalMigration--determinantsModels, TheoreticalNorth AmericaNorthern AmericaPopulationPopulation DynamicsResearch MethodologyUnited States