Determinants, processes, and consequences of internal migration in Thailand

Abstract

Migration has an effect on both economic and social problems. In Thailand, as in other developing countries, many migrants have moved to unsuitable places with the intention of bettering their lives. This study of patterns, determinants, processes, and consequences of internal migration in Thailand will attempt to explore the migratory situation at regional, provincial and village levels. It is hoped that this study will provide not only an impetus for further research in this area but also promote a more equitable policy for population migration and distribution.

Regional and provincial-level secondary data from census reports were employed, and the primary data was collected from sampled villages, households and persons. After the data is processed, the analysis are then explored using descriptive statistics, Regression Analysis and Contextual Analysis technique.

The conclusion drawn from these findings are as follows:

1) The conclusion of the regional and provincial study:

1.1 The percentage changes in the rate of interregional migration significantly shows that the rate of inter-regional migration in 1965-1970 was higher than it was in 1955-1960; whereas, the migration rate in 1975-1980 was lower than it was in 1965-1970.

1.2 There are two forms of migration phenomena at the provincial level: the first group experienced a higher net-gain in 1965-1970 than it did in 1955-1960, and a lower net-gain in 1975-1980 than it did in 1965-1970; the other group experienced the highest net-loss in 1965-1970 and had the lowest net-loss in 1975-1980.

1.3 The encouraging factors affecting the 5-year inter-provincial migration are the size of population, the percentage of urban population, and the income per capita; meanwhile the discouraging factors are the proportion of unemployed, the level of provincial development, and the distances between provinces.

2) The conclusion of the village study:

2.1 For the processes of migration, the migrants prefer to migrate independently than to move in groups; close friends or relatives encourage the migrants to move to certain areas more than village leaders or job brokers do. However, seasonal migration is most common and the inter-regional migration in stages occurs more often than does migration to Bangkok.

2.2 The factors influencing the migration of the samples in the villages are the family size, the employment status, the level of village development, the presence of job brokers, the interaction of the distance and the migration experience, the interaction of the level of the village development and the family size, the interaction of the job brokers and the migration experience, the interaction of organized to migrate by village leaders and the migration experience, the interaction of the distance and the age, the interaction of the distance and the size of cropped land holdings, the interaction of the level of village development and the size of cropped land holdings, and the interaction of organized to migrate by village leaders and the level of village development and the ownership of a radio set.

2.3 The members of a migrant family are better off economically when they receive remittance. Although the families are separated, the ones at home still have enough workers.

1.3 The encouraging factors affecting the 5-year inter-provincial migration are the size of population, the percentage of urban population, and the income per capita; meanwhile the discouraging factors are the proportion of unemployed, the level of provincial development, and the distances between provinces.

2) The conclusion of the village study:

2.1 For the processes of migration, the migrants prefer to migrate independently than to move in groups; close friends or relatives encourage the migrants to move to certain areas more than village leaders or job brokers do. However, seasonal migration is most common and the inter-regional migration in stages occurs more often than does migration to Bangkok.

2.2 The factors influencing the migration of the samples in the villages are the family size, the employment status, the level of village development, the presence of job brokers, the interaction of the distance and the migration experience, the interaction of the level of the village development and the family size, the interaction of the job brokers and the migration experience, the interaction of organized to migrate by village leaders and the migration experience, the interaction of the distance and the age, the interaction of the distance and the size of cropped land holdings, the interaction of the level of village development and the size of cropped land holdings, and the interaction of organized to migrate by village leaders and the level of village development and the ownership of a radio set.

2.3 The members of a migrant family are better off economically when they receive remittance. Although the families are separated, the ones at home still have enough workers.