ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses how inherent inequalities, prior to migration, affect the potential linkages between migration and development. This is achieved by comparing two regions in Ghana (the Upper East and Eastern regions) that have different migration prevalence. The analysis is done on a sub-national spatial scale. I argue, consistent with de Haas (2005), that there is a temporal dimension to the relationship between migration and inequality whereby inequality, both at the familial and regional levels, initially increases with migration and then decreases over the medium-term. This is because of the selectivity that characterises migration, especially at the pioneer stage. The chapter takes into account different types of inequalities such as average household income, gender, human capital development, access to employment and social amenities. The research also uncovers a spatial bias in favour of urban centres for the location of remittance-funded investments by migrants irrespective of their migration stage or place of origin.
