The presented study takes up the issues of migration for economic purposes experienced by rural population coming from two Podhale districts: Czarny Dunajec and Poronin and focuses on social and economic consequences of this phenomenon – both in its positive and negative aspect. The research was conducted on a 90-people sample of adult inhabitants of the districts by means of a survey questionnaire. It was addressed to people who directly (emigrated themselves) or indirectly (due to emigration of a member of the closest family) experienced migration for economic purposes. Analyzing the economic effects of migration, it is essential to pay attention to the improvement of the situation of families (increasing the standard and quality of life) and loss posed by the outfl ow of labour. Among the social consequences of migration in both municipalities is diffi cult to identify those that can provide a signifi cant adverse change in the social structure and the functioning of migrant families – for this state of affairs is infl uenced mainly by regular, working abroad and short-term migrations.