Household Pandemic Response: The Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 on Migrant Households in India

Abstract

We study the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the coping strategies adopted by left-behind households comprising both internal and international migrants in Kerala, India. Using semi-structured telephone interviews with 52 households, we analyze the coping strategies these households have adopted to combat the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. The results suggest that the social vulnerability of migrant households could explain the differential impact of the pandemic on the remittance flows, consumption, food security, and livelihood of households.