Climate-induced internal migration: A study of movements in the coastal area of Bangladesh “Are individuals whose livelihoods depend on agriculture more likely to migrate compared to others?”

Details

Supervisors

Schoumaker, Bruno

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences de la population et du développement, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enBangladesh, a low-lying delta nation, faces intensifying climate impacts such as frequent floods, cyclones, and projected sea-level rise, which threaten livelihoods and influence migration decisions. Using survey data from the Bangladesh Environment and Migration Survey (BEMS), this master’s thesis investigates whether individuals explicitly identify environmental hazards as a migration driver and whether occupational status affects migration likelihood. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied to a sample from the west coast of Bangladesh, with a focus on agricultural workers traditionally seen as highly vulnerable to environmental shocks. Results indicate that, contrary to the literature, agricultural workers were not more prone to migrate than other occupational categories; low-skilled or middle-skilled workers showed the highest migration propensity. Age and education of household heads significantly influenced these patterns. These findings highlight the complexity of environmental migration.