Project Summary

The purpose of this project is to investigate the influence of ideational factors - values and beliefs - on domestic and international migration in Nepal. We have identified many ideational factors that are hypothesized to have significant influences on migration, including the decision to leave an area and where to relocate. Ideational influences can also combine with socio-economic and demographic structures, family processes, and migration-specific capital in influencing migration. Unfortunately, most migration studies have focused almost exclusively on structural factors, and there is little understanding of the influence of values and beliefs on migration. Our project is designed to fill this important gap by focusing on values and beliefs and how they combine with structural forces to influence the decision to migrate and where to migrate.