Development Studies

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/10564

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Rural-urban migration

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    Urban consumption spaces and practices of women in low-income urban settlements : a case study in Khlong Toey, Bangkok : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2015) Finlayson, Jennifer
    Consumption related research focuses strongly on the experiences of the Anglo-American middle classes, and less is known about what consumption spaces and practices represent to those living in developing countries. Low-income urban women in developing countries seem particularly invisible, and more especially so rural-urban migrant women. Using a qualitative approach, this thesis explored the role and significance of urban consumption spaces and practices in the everyday lives of low-income women living in Khlong Toey, Bangkok. Findings show that consumption practices represent more than provisioning, they are a way that women meet the families’ basic needs and demonstrate their care and strong connections for both their rural and urban families. Consumption practices contribute to the role that women have in making consumption related household decisions and active engagement in consumption promotes improving autonomy. The adoption of urban consumption practices affects both the women’s sense of belonging and their perception of fitting in to their urban environment. Furthermore, the adoption of urban ways by the women, including new ideals, behaviours and material goods are also exported back to their rural villages, subsequently improving women’s families’ social status and blurring traditional lines of social delineation that exist between rural and urban society. Consumption practices enable women to invest in their families’ futures. This thesis demonstrates that it is not only through women’s production that development outcomes are enabled, but through consumption as well. This is significant, as framed within development discourses, consumption contributes to women gaining autonomy within gender development; and consumption practices demonstrate provisioning and maintaining familial commitment within urban and rural livelihoods.
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    Internal migration in northeast Thailand : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1998) Vutthisomboon, Achana; Vutthisomboon, Achana
    The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of internal migration in Thailand in general and the Northeast region in particular. At macro level, the determinants of migration are examined through regression analysis using the 1990 census data. It is found that the most significant variable determining all various migration streams, which are of interest of this study, is migrant stock. This indicates that relatives and friends in the destination areas have a strong influence on migrants' decisions to migrate. The focus of this study is migration from Northeast Thailand to Bangkok. The magnitude of these movements have long been recognised by planners and policy makers and attempts to stem and divert these flows. Such attempts have been made looking at migration in a negative way. However, it is evident that little is known of the actual consequences of rural-urban migration. Planners and policy makers, in designing the more effective policies to modify migration flows, need to have an understanding of the impact of rural-urban migration both on areas of origin and destination. In examining the determinants of migration this study conducted an analysis of the migration process and the impacts of migration on individuals, households and origin communities. It was necessary to conduct research on both origin and destination areas to explore and establish linkages between the broader structural forces and the forces which operate at the individual level influencing decisions to move or stay. Two groups of villages in Roi Et, varying in degree of mobility, were selected for the rural surveys. The urban surveys were conducted in Bangkok. The main findings of these surveys revealed that differences between villages in the incidence of migration are seen to be linked primarily to access to cash cropping and income earning opportunities in the villages. The networks of contacts that build up over time between individuals, households and communities in the rural areas and migrants in Bangkok are the most important factor in the decision to migrate. Evidence from the surveys indicate that migration yields substantial benefits to individual migrants and their households and, at the same time, have a positive impact on the origin communities. The villagers in the study villages perceive migration to be a way by which they can earn more income and improve their standard of living. Migrants in Bangkok maintain strong ties with their households and villages. In this context, circulation, or temporary migration, from the rural Northeast to Bangkok is quite likely to increase. Rural-urban migration needs to be looked at not in terms of the cause of urban problems, but rather as a result of urban growth. The impact of rural-urban migration needs to be further explored and must be taken into account in designing population and development policies. These policies should not only aim at alleviating urban problems but also to recognise and meet the needs of the rural populations.