Rural-urban linkages and the impact of internal migration in asian developing countries

In summary, findings from the four papers in this volume demonstrate the critical role played by migration in establishing linkages between rural origins and urban destinations, and the multifaceted impacts of these linkages on individuals, families and communities in Asian developing countries. These findings are relevant to the longstanding concern about the potential adverse impacts of internal migration, the siphoning of skill and human resources to the city. While migrants themselves are generally better off by moving from rural areas to the cities, it is well known that the migration process tends to be selective of the younger, better educated, and more dynamic members of origin communities, and is therefore detrimental to the vitality of rural communities and the family members left behind. The implications of the findings presented in this volume is that while these negative effects of migrant selection do exist, they are at least partly offset by benefits derived from the linkages between rural and urban areas established in the migration process. Indeed, such connections take a variety of forms and almost certainly bring positive effects to migrant families and communities in places of origin, especially if they are maintained and properly managed. This in turn underlines the need for a clear and nuanced understanding of the way that rural-urban linkages are forged in the migration process, and the diverse forms they take.