Push-and-Pull Migration and Satisficing versus Optimising Migratory Behaviour: A Review and Nepalese Evidence

Reviews major economic theories of migration concentrating on their behavioural assumptions. Most of these theories assume homogenous optimising behaviour by economic agents. By contrast, Lipton assumes heterogeneity of group behaviour - rich persons optimise whereas poor persons are more reactive than proactive. hence the rural poor are more likely to be influenced in their migratory decisions by push factors are rather than by pull with the position reversed for the rural rich. The former factors associated in this article with thresholds or satisficing and the latter with optimising. To some extent, Nepalese data supports Lipton's hypothesis. Similarly, Lipton's hypothesis about difference in remitting behaviour of migrants from poor families and from rich families is supported.