Publication

This paper examines the relationship between rural-urban migration and health in Thailand. It analyzes data on the physical and mental health of 2397 individuals between 2005 and 2009 and finds that migration in Thailand depended on an individual’s health. The likelihood of migrating from a rural area to an urban one was higher for those who had better physical health but poorer mental health. Compared to residents in urban destinations, migrants were, on average, physically and mentally healthier upon arrival. Their health, nevertheless, deteriorated within two to four years after migration. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these results for migration research in China.