For instance, the NREGS is only available in rural areas, and the PDS was historically not portable, and only accessible in one’s home area ration shop. Thus, migrants have to give up access to the two most important social welfare benefits. Further, agricultural subsidies are only available in rural areas, which also induces people to not migrate. On the other side of the equation, we also deter migration through under-investment in urban rental housing and other urban amenities. Yet, the fact that people still choose to migrate from rural areas highlights how much worse their prospects in
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