Does migration affect the well-being of children under 5? Evidence from Vietnam

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of migration on the well-being of children under 5 in Vietnam. For the purpose of this study migration is measured by the proportion of residents who moved from one province to another five years ago, while children’s well-being is proxied by nutritional status, height and weight for age, education, and childcare. Our estimation results show that migration increases the probability of child access to food, improves their nutritional status, and enhances childcare. Interestingly, the effects of migration on the nutritional status of children under 5 tend to be greater for children who has already had a better nutritional status. We find that income is a channel through which migration affects the well-being of children. Our findings suggest that promoting migration can be an effective tool for improving the well-being of children in Vietnam.