Socioeconomic Effects of International Migration on Pakistani Families Left Behind

Abstract

About 1.6 million workers migrated from Pakistan to the Middle East in the 1970s. Most were young married males and most left their families behind. This paper investigates the effects of out-migration of a family member on the household members left behind. Female employment rates are lower in remittance-receiving households as is female unpaid family help in rural areas and low-wage employment in urban areas. More children go to school in remittance-receiving households although though this does not guarantee a higher eventual educational level. The families of Middle East migrants in rural areas report a higher work load than do the families of rural-urban migrants. The departure of workers has negatively affected output more markedly in rural than in urban households; family-based enterprises are more prevalent in rural areas. The families of Middle East migrants have increased spending power; however a major part of the remittances is used for consumption. Investments are made predominantly in housing. Some clinical evidence suggests that some females suffer from psychological disorders and that delinguency has increased among the children of some migrants. Emigration has both positive and negative effects on the families left behind.