SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF TEMPORARY LABOUR MIGRATION IN INDIA

Temporary labour migration has rarely been studied at macro level despite its high prevalence in India. Drawing from the recently available Indian National Sample Survey (2007–08), this paper aims to study the basic differentials between temporary and permanent labour migration at the national level and examines the socioeconomic determinants of temporary labour migration at the state level. The study shows that temporary migration is seven times larger than permanent migration, and is largely a rural phenomenon dominated by rural to urban migration. A regional pattern in temporary labour migration is evident in the low-income Central and North Indian states. Low economic, educational and social status significantly induces temporary labour migration in contrast to permanent labour migration. As such, temporary labour migration appears to be a survival strategy of the rural poor in India.     

INVISIBLE UPGRADING IN INNER CITIES: HOMEOWNERS' REINVESTMENT BEHAVIOUR IN CENTRAL KITCHENER

An examination of household and housing characteristics in the inner residential zones of Kitchener, Ontario, 1971–81, shows patterns of change suggestive of both revitalization and decline. More detailed survey of the two innermost tracts produces stronger evidence of modest, yet substantial, upgrading by newly resident homeowning households. There are different types of households undertaking renovations, and they have different stated reasons for purchasing an inner-city home. Despite these differences, rates of reinvestment are modest across the sample. The somewhat inconspicuous form of upgrading found in this survey is put forward as an alternative type of inner-city change, distinct from the well-recognized extremes of gentrification and decline. In the broader context, it is thought that this style of upgrading may be more typical of medium rather than large-sized, and of Canadian rather than American, cities. Un examen de l‘évolution des caractéristiques des ménages et des habitations des quartiers situés aux abords du centre de la ville de Kitchener (Ontario) entre 1971 et 1981, révèle des tendances qui suggèrent à la fois une revitalisation et un déclin. Une étude plus approfondie des deux secteurs de recensement qui constituent le coeur de la ville, fait ressortir des indications modestes mais remarquables d'efforts de rénovation de la part des nouveaux occupants propriétaires. La rénovation domiciliaire est entreprise par plusieurs types de ménages qui témoignent d'une variété de raisons pour s’établir dans ces quartiers. Malgré ces différences, les fonds investis dans la rénovation restent modestes lorsque l‘échantillon est considéré dans son ensemble. Cette forme d'amelioration résidentielle, quelque peu discrète, se présente comme une alternative au type de changement caractérise par les formes extrèmes d’évolution urbaine que sont la gentrification et le déclin. Dans une perspective plus vaste, il se pourrait bien que cette forme d“amélioration résidentielle soil plus courante dans les villes de dimension moyenne que dans les grandes villes, et dans les villes canadiennes que dans les villes américaines.     

NEW APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF POPULATION DYNAMICS IN CITIES OF MOSCOW OBLAST

Quantitative analysis of historical trends in city growth rates within Moscow Oblast (1926-1984) reveals two major components or city types: a group of cities with below-(oblast) average rates for each of five periods of analysis (1926-39, 1939-59, 1959-70, 1970-79, 1979-84) and a second category experiencing above-average growth until 1970, with subsequent reduction of rates below the oblast average. Further breakdown of the two major components reveals seven smaller groups, analysis of the spatial patterns of which can provide a basis for planning recommendations on the future development of the region (translated by H. L. Haslett, Birmingham, UK).     

THE DETERMINANTS OF DISTANCE TO SHOPPING CENTERS IN AN URBAN MODEL CONTEXT

ABSTRACT. We discuss the distance to shopping in the context of three fundamental theories: The Optimal City Theory, the Central Business District Theory and a Cost-Benefit Theory. Each is described and estimated separately by econometric models. The three theories are combined in a final model using the expansion method. The final model, including all three theories, is based on enquiry data from 15 Danish towns.