Too Rare to Dare? Leveraging Household Surveys to Boost Research on Climate Migration

Reliable microeconomic data to understand the climate- migration nexus are virtually nonexistent. Nationally representative multitopic household surveys are rarely, if ever, explicitly designed for studying migration issues. Despite this limitation, most countries have no alternatives to the use of household surveys when it comes to analyzing complex multidimensional phenomena such as the interrelationship between climate change and migration. This paper offers a critical reflection on current challenges faced by multi-topic household surveys in responding to this need, but also, more importantly, on the many opportunities embedded in their use. Specifically, using the Living Standards Measurement Study as a case study, a conceptual framework, practical empirical guidance, and a methodological agenda are proposed to address data gaps and contribute to a more solid understanding of the climate- migration nexus.