Place attachment, migratory behaviour and its impact on economic activity: a study with special reference to Eastern India

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this study is to define the aspects of place attachment and their effect on migratory behaviour. It also aims to identify the connection between migration decision-making and workforce supply at the source, as well as to track the impact of adequate employment supplies and the improvement on employment generation.Design/methodology/approachA primary study was conducted among the migrants who returned back during nationwide lockdown with the help of tested structured questionnaire. The variables identified through review of literature and pilot study are tested using a structural equation modelling model.FindingsThe result exhibited that all hypothesised relationships had a positive and significant connection. The overall results showed there is a significant and positive connection between place attachment and migratory behaviour, and both have a positive impact on economic activity.Originality/valueThis survey is conducted in the districts of West Bengal, India. There are several documents on the connection to the place attachment and the migratory behaviour. There are, however, no studies focusing on place attachment and its effect on economic activity on West Bengal, India, where migration is a serious problem. This is the first article that discuss about three main concepts together such as place attachment, migratory behaviours and its influence on the economic activity of the districts of West Bengal, India.

The Ties That Bind: Exploring Place Identity and Attachment Among Digital Nomads

“…However, it is not clear whether the process of mobility weakens their attachment to the place of origin, continues to exist simultaneously with a new place identity, or strengthens the connection with the old place. Some authors, like Adhikari et al (2022), suggest that migration can increase attachment to the place of origin, while Vidal et al (2010) indicate that mobility might reduce existing place identity.…”

The Anchors of Home: Understanding How Place Attachment strengthen Well-being of Sri Lanka's Migratory Fisher Communities

“…However, most studies primarily focus on the relational and psychological aspects, often treating economic conditions as external and given, except for a few exceptions (e.g., Joy, 2001;Debenedetti et al, 2014;Adhikari et al, 2022). Scannell and Gifford (2010) present a tripartite framework that categorizes place-based factors into three key dimensions: place, person, and process.…”

“…Well-being theory encompasses both objective and subjective dimensions, along with relational aspects (White, 2010;Coulthard, 2012). Place attachment, on the other hand, involves the emotional and psychological connections on individual forms with a speci c location, often fueled by positive sentiments toward that place (Low and Altman, 1992;Manzo, 2005;Scannell et al, 2016), (Kyle et al, 2004a;Adhikari et al, 2022). While numerous studies regard place attachment as a component of wellbeing (Berg, 2020) this research posits that the choice of location is a determinant factor in enhancing the well-being of migratory shing communities.…”

“…While existing literature extensively covers the relationship between permanent migration or relocation and place attachment (Adhikari et al, 2022;Bazrafshan et al, 2023;Cocola-Gant, 2023), there is a notable gap in research concerning seasonal migration and place attachment, particularly within the context of sheries (Wanyonyi et al, 2016a;Nuan et al, 2018), the dynamics of how speci c locations in uence decision-making regarding where and when to migrate, as well as why shers consistently return to the same locations annually, remain inadequately understood. Consequently, nuanced social issues such as the emotional and psychological bonds between shers and particular places (Nuan et al, 2018) as well as the pursuit of well-being within the scope of seasonal migration, have yet to be comprehensively explored.…”

“…Adhikari et al (2022) explored the relationship between place attachment and permanent migration in West Bengal, India, emphasizing how available economic activities in uence migration decisions. The ability to engage in economic activities has multiple ripple effects on shing households: it strengthens the household economy, makes use of idle labor, serves as a preemptive risk management strategy(Koralagama, 2011), and forti es household resilience against nancial shocks.…”