ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the relationship between various endowments and emigration, examining how these endowments affect migration decisions. The objective is to establish a base for migration capacities that promote skilled persons to migrate from Kerala to the United States of America (U.S.), which is a significant global migration corridor. The ‘endowments and capabilities’ approach by Amartya Sen provides the theoretical foundation for this objective. Endowments refer to the resources individuals possess. The study draws on data from 358 households in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts, including 143 migrant households and 215 non-migrant households. It explores how personal, family and social resources influence the decision to migrate. Logistic regression analysis reveals that social capital, particularly networks in the U.S. and Christian background, significantly enhances migration prospects. Human capital, such as education, also plays a crucial role, with each additional level of education increasing migration likelihood by nearly fivefold. Gender disparities are evident, with men having over twice the odds of migration compared to women. Family capital, measured by landholding, shows a marginal influence. These findings underline the importance of integrated policies focusing on education, social network facilitation and gender empowerment to optimise migration opportunities and address inequalities.
