Replication and Advancement of the Cumulative Causation Model: Evidence from Nang Rong, Thailand

Sara Curran, Princeton University
Filiz Garipe, Princeton University
Chang Y. Chung, Princeton University
Kanchana Tangchonlatip, Mahidol University

The tendency for migration to gain a strong internal momentum once it is initiated has been studied under a variety of rubrics. Economists refer to a process of "path dependence" and Sociologists refer to a process of "cumulative causation". We build on these models and test their fit with data collected from Nang Rong, Thailand. Using retrospective life history data we measure cumulative causation at the individual, household, and community levels. We replicate previous models and find similar results. Then, we correct for unobserved heterogeneity at the individual level. Third, we introduce household measures of cumulative migration experience to our model. Finally, we introduce measures of marital status and level of economic development into our models. Although we closely replicate previous models using the Thai data, when we add greater specificity to measures of cumulative causation we observe a shift in the importance of community level cumulative causation.