Open AccessThe long run health consequences of rural‐urban migration
Author(s) -
Johnson Janna E.,
Taylor Evan J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
quantitative economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.062
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1759-7331
pISSN - 1759-7323
DOI - 10.3982/qe962
Subject(s) - longevity , alcohol consumption , geography , consumption (sociology) , agriculture , rural area , demographic economics , rural economy , socioeconomics , development economics , demography , economics , political science , medicine , alcohol , sociology , gerontology , biology , social science , biochemistry , archaeology , law
Rural‐urban migration is an integral part of the structural transformation as societies move from a traditional agricultural economy to a modern economy. This process has many potential consequences for migrants. Our study focuses on the lifetime health effects of the large mid‐20th century migration out of rural U.S. Northern Great Plains states, primarily to urban locations in the West and Midwest. An analysis of marginal treatment effects (MTEs) shows that (a) migrants are positively selected, and (b) the causal impact of migration is decreased longevity. Our evidence suggests that elevated mortality among migrants is linked to increased smoking and alcohol consumption.