Assessing the Role of Livelihood Capitals in Migration Decisions: Evidence from Cyclone-Affected Coastal Sundarbans, India

Abstract This study explores the influence of various livelihood capitals—human, physical, financial, social, and natural—on migration intentions in the cyclone-affected coastal Sundarbans region. A field survey was conducted with 750 households from 10 villages in the Patharpratima Block, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. The villages were categorized into areas with high, moderate, and low migration potential based on migration risk. To assess the impact of these capitals on migration aspirations, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used, treating the capitals as latent variables. The validity and reliability of the model were verified through factor loadings, Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability (CR), and average variance extracted (AVE). Discriminant validity among different migration risk categories was ensured using the Fornell–Larcker criterion. Path analysis was performed with SmartPLS 4.0 software to clarify the structural relationships between the variables. The key findings reveal that human, social, financial, and physical capitals strongly influence migration intentions in high-mobility communities, while natural capital has a minimal effect. In areas with moderate migration potential, physical capital plays a limited role, while human, social, and financial capitals are significantly impacted by natural capital. In low-mobility communities, human, financial, and physical assets have little influence on migration decisions, with social and natural capitals being the primary drivers. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of diverse livelihood resources in shaping migration choices, with natural capital having a more complex role, especially in areas with low migration potential.