Researching International Migration: Lessons from the Kerala Experience

International migration and workers’ remittances have, of late, become a significant economic and social phenomena affecting the fortunes of millions of families in the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Yet, the measurements and methods of analysis of their impact on the individuals, families, economy, and society have not received the attention they deserve.

A first-of-its-kind study of international migration, based on large-scale surveys across a span of 15 years of fieldwork, this book:

• includes methods of conducting field surveys, estimating migration, and analysing migration trends, remittances, selectivity, and differentials;
• assesses other demographic, socio-economic phenomenon, such as education, employment and women’s status;
• provides a methodology to evaluate remittances and their influence on the economy; and
• examines social costs of migration on those left behind ― parents, wives and children ― a neglected area in the field of migration.

This handbook will be invaluable to scholars and students of migration studies, demography, development studies and sociology as well as policy-makers, administrators, academics, and non-governmental organisations in the field.

K. C. Zachariah is Honorary Professor, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, India.

S. Irudaya Rajan is Chair Professor, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Research Unit on International Migration, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, India.