Seasonal Migration and Early Childhood Development

Karen Macours (1) , Renos Vakis (2)

1 JHU - Johns Hopkins University
2 Banque Mondiale

This paper provides unique evidence of the positive consequences of seasonal migration for investments in early childhood development. We analyze migration in a poor shock-prone border region in rural Nicaragua where it offers one of the main household income diversification and risk -coping strategies. IV estimates show, somewhat surprisingly, that shock-driven migration by mothers has a positive effect on early cognitive development. We attribute these findings to changes in income and to the intra-household empowerment gains resulting from mother's migration, which offset potential negative early childhood development effects from temporary lack of parenting.

Mots clés: Nicaragua; Migration; Income; Households

Domaines: Economies et finances

Karen Macours, Renos Vakis. Seasonal Migration and Early Childhood Development. World Development, 2010, 38 (6), pp.857-869. ⟨10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.02.012⟩. ⟨halshs-00754445⟩