146 structural transformation and rural change revisited
Figure 4.11 Migrants’ Destination by Surveyed Region Tominian Tequis. Koutiala 100% T. Bajas Diéma Macina Sierra SM. 80% Casamance El Cuà 60% Mekhé 1 El Viejo 40% Nioro La Libertad 20% Haut Delta Terrabona 0% Mekhé 2 Muy Muy Bas Delta
Souss
Antsirabe 2
Saïss
Alaotra 1
Chaouia Nakuru N. Nyando Bungoma
capital or major town (% migrants)
Morondava
Alaotra 2
Itasy Antsirabe 1
rest of the country (% migrants)
abroad (% migrants)
Source: RuralStruc surveys.
Senegal, Morocco, and Nicaragua (see table 4.1). However, even in regions where migration is important, earnings per migrant are very diverse (figure 4.10). A core group of regions displays earnings between $1,000 PPP and $2,000 PPP (Diéma, Mekhé 1, and Bas Delta, all the surveyed zones in Morocco, and Mexico), while Kenya and Madagascar show evidence of very low transfers. The five surveyed regions of Nicaragua, where average returns are above $2,500 PPP, stand out.31 In comparison, the earnings of Mexican migrants seem surprisingly low, given what is known about the development of migrations in that country.32 From this very diverse picture, three main patterns of migration can be identified based on the regional importance and duration of migrations, and the main destinations of migrants (figure 4.11). They correspond to 23 of the 30 surveyed regions, and their major characteristics are presented in table 4.3. The first pattern corresponds to international long-term migrations, mostly toward OECD countries (Diéma, Souss, and Saïss, Tequisquiapan). The second pattern illustrates migrations to neighboring countries. It is exemplified by the specific case of Nicaragua, with short-term migrations to Costa Rica and El Salvador, where migrants are engaged in waged activities, mainly in agriculture (export crops) and services (especially construction, housecleaning, and security). One explanation for the higher returns observed in Nicaragua is that
Africa.indb 146
6/1/12 8:37 AM