ABSTRACT
International migration from Punjab is a historical process that started during the late 19th century. It has often been viewed as a household decision to overcome loss of status or a strategy to improve relative position of the household in the community. The macro-structural transformation of the region during the initiation of the process and the nature development over the years have received very little attention in explaining international migration from the region. Impact of migration on the local economy, likewise, has focused mainly on Diaspora Philanthropy with little empirical analysis of the impact on the local community. The present work argues that it is the structural factors that create vulnerabilities for labour in the state and international migration is used as a strategy by individuals and households to address these vulnerabilities. As a result, there is overdependence on international migration, lowering local labour effort, especially among migrant households.
