Spatial Heterogeneity and Population Mobility in India

Mobility is one of the important aspects of human nature, which is often guided by socio-economic, political as well as environmental factors. The nature, pattern and direction of population mobility may vary across the space. The dynamics of internal migration in India plays an important role in the process of economic development and social transformation and shows an increasing trend of rural to u rban flow over the years. At the same time, it shows falling trends in all other streams of migration and are registering negative growth rates as well. The determinants of rural to urban migration include a set of socio-economic, demographic, geographical and environmental variables. The empirical results establish the “Gravity Model” of migration in India; where as the “Harris-Todaro Model” of rural urban migration has limited applicability in both inter-state and intra-state migration in India. [Working Paper No. 234] URL: [http://www.isec.ac.in/WP%20234%20-%20Jajati%20Keshari%20Parida.pdf]