Climatic Change and Rural-Urban Migration: The Case of Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

We investigate the role that climatic change has played in the pattern of urbanization in sub-Saharan African countries compared to the rest of the developing world. To this end we assemble a cross-country panel data set that allows us to estimate the determinants of urbanization. The results of our econometric analysis suggest that climatic change, as proxied by rainfall, has acted to change urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa but not elsewhere in the developing world. Moreover, this link has become stronger since decolonization, which is likely due to the often simultaneous lifting of legislation prohibiting the free internal movement of native Africans.

Keywords: urbanization, climate change, rainfall, rural-urban migration, Africa

JEL Classification: O18, O55, Q54, R23