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RESOURCES BY TOPIC
RESOURCES BY PLACE

Brain Drain and Brain Gain

Africa
Circular Migration Asia
Diasporas Europe
General Migration and Development Latin America and the Caribbean
Remittances United States
Temporary Workers  

Brain Drain and Brain Gain

The "Brain Gain" Race Begins with Foreign Students
By Jeanne Batalova, MPI
Migration Information Source, January 2007
The United States has been a destination for education and research for generations of foreign students and scholars. MPI's Jeanne Batalova explores why the country has become less dominant in the global education market in recent years.


Emigration, Brain Drain and Development: The Case of Sub-Saharan Africa
By Arno Tanner, Visiting Scholar
Published by East-West Books Helsinki and the Migration Policy Institute, Fall 2005

Arno Tanner finds that while emigration may be beneficial in some cases, unhindered high-skilled emigration, particularly in the case of sub-Saharan Africa, can have disastrous consequences. Dr. Tanner recommends specific policies where carefully targeted development measures could be used to mitigate the negative consequences of brain drain.
Reassessing the Impacts of Brain Drain on Developing Countries
By Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah
Institute for Public Policy Research

Migration Information Source, August 2005
The assumption that brain drain is everywhere and always negative does not necessarily hold true and hides the need for a more nuanced methodology for assessing migration's impacts.
New Research Challenges Notion of German "Brain Drain"
By Claudia Diehl, German Federal Institute for Population Research, and David Dixon, MPI
Migration Information Source, August 2005
For years, Germany has been concerned about losing its top minds to the United States. While highly skilled individuals are leaving for the United States, most of the increase is accounted for by temporary migrants.
The Global Tug-of-War for Health Care Workers
By Kimberly Hamilton and Jennifer Yau
Migration Information Source, December 2004
This article analyzes the major challenges and policy responses surrounding the migration of health care workers from developing countries.
Skilled Migration Abroad or Human Capital Flight?
By B. Lindsay Lowell, Georgetown University
Migration Information Source, June 2003
This article sketches the big picture of skilled migration, touching on both negative impacts and positive feedback for developing states.
Brain Drain and Gain: The Case of Taiwan
By Kevin O'Neil
Migration Information Source, September 2003
Kevin O'Neil takes a close look at how Taiwan has reaped economic benefits from high-skilled migration.

A New Surge of Interest in Migration and Development
By Kathleen Newland
Migration Information Source, February 2007
A number of governments and institutions are determined to ride international migration toward a future of greater prosperity. MPI's Kathleen Newland outlines what they all should know about the pluses and minuses of the most basic issues that frame the debate on migration and development: remittances and the brain drain.

Circular Migration and Development
Managing Temporary Migration: Lessons from the Philippine Model
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Developing countries can proactively manage large-scale, systematic, and legal movement of temporary migrant workers. This MPI report analyzes the system the Philippines uses to manage the temporary migration of millions of Filipinos who work in countries around the globe. For many observers, the Philippines' system of managing temporary migration has unrivaled sophistication, making it a model for other developing countries hoping to access the benefits of global labor mobility.
Download Report | Press Release
Purchase a hard copy at the MPI bookstore: US | International
Learning by Doing: Experiences of Circular Migration
By Kathleen Newland, Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, and Aaron Terrazas
Increasingly, policymakers are considering whether circular migration could improve the likelihood that global mobility gains will be chared by migrant-origin and destination counties alike—as well as by migrants themselves. This MPI Insight examines the record of circular migration, both where it has arisen naturally and where governments have taken action to encourage it.

Download Report | Press Release
From Zero Sum to a Win-Win Scenario:
A Literature Review on Circular Migration

By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
September 2006

This report looks at the policy implications of new research findings on the developmental impacts of circular migration. It highlights new research on how diasporas relate to their countries of origin and reviews policies intended to encourage circular migration, including temporary worker schemes, and the hotly contested issues surrounding them.

Circular Migration and Development: Trends, Policy Routes, and Ways Forward
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias and Kathleen Newland
Policy Brief, April 2007

Circular migration, the temporary or permanent return of migrants to their countries of origin, is seen as offering benefits to countries of migrant origin, to destination countries, and to migrants themselves.

The most common policy route to encourage circulation has been to ensure that migrants maintain ties with their countries of origin, by providing financial incentives to return or by enforcing strict measures to prevent their remaining permanently in destination countries. Experience from many countries shows that this conventional set of policies has not, and in all probability will not, work on its own. Effective circular migration arrangements call for policies that strengthen ties to countries of both origin and destination. An environment that helps migrants to reach their goals—as manifested for instance by accumulated savings, newly acquired skills, and successful business ventures—is most likely to foster temporary or permanent return.

Circular Migration: Keeping Development Rolling?
By Graeme Hugo, University of Adelaide
Migration Information Source, June 2003
Non-permanent, circular migration between nations has increased. Graeme Hugo of the University of Adelaide looks at the implications for development in Asia.

Burkina Faso: Testing the Tradition of Circular Migration
By Brad Kress, UK's Centre for Research into Economic and Social Trends
Migration Information Source, May 2006
One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina Faso is a former French colony in Western Africa that has traditionally sent thousands of seasonal migrants to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Brad Kress examines the migration issues facing the country today.

Secondary Migration: Who Re-Migrates and Why These Migrants Matter
By Ayumi Takenaka, Bryn Mawr College
Migration Information Source, April 2007
Relatively little is known about migration that involves more than one destination. Ayumi Takenaka examines the available data to assess who re-migrates to the United States.

Discussion on Migration and Development: Using Remittances and Circular Migration as Drivers for Development
By Kevin O'Neil
Summary Report, April 2003

Diasporas, Migrant Organizations, and Development
Engaging the Asian Diaspora
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias and Kathleen Newland
This brief explores how governments in Asia are facilitating diaspora contributions, including creation of conducive legal frameworks and diaspora-centered institutions to initiation of programs that specifically target diasporas as development actors. The authors detail a number of legislative proposals geared at diasporas, including flexible citizenship laws and visa arrangements, political and property rights, and reduced income tax rates.
Download Brief
Beyond Regional Circularity: The Emergence of an Ethiopian Diaspora
By Aaron Matteo Terrazas
Migration Information Source, June 2007
While Ethiopians have long followed seasonal migration patterns within the Horn of Africa, it was only after the political upheavals of the 1970s that they began to settle in the West.
Diaspora Philanthrophy: Private Giving and Public Policy
By Kathleen Newland, Aaron Terrazas, and Roberto Munster
This report, the third in a series examining the role of diasporas in development policy, analyzes the evolving role of diaspora philanthropy in countries of origin. The study examines the emergence of nongovernmental development actors and new trends in global philanthropy, such as strategic giving and use of online platforms to harness small donations. It also discusses public policies, in both donor and developing countries, that can encourage or discourage philanthropic giving.
Download Report

Diasporas and Development:
The Latin American Experience

By Manuel Orozco, Inter-American Dialogue
Migration Information Source, June 2003
This article examines the increasing relevance of economic ties between diasporas and home country economies in Latin America.

Connected through Service: Diaspora Volunteers and Global Development
By Aaron Terrazas
Nearly 1 million US residents spend time volunteering abroad each year, including nearly 200,000 first- and second-generation immigrants. Diasporas often have the connections, knowledge, and personal drive to volunteer outside the framework of organized volunteer programs. But many also volunteer through established programs. As skilled migration and the number of US youth with ancestors in the developing world grow over the coming years, the potential for both skilled diaspora volunteers and youth diaspora volunteers will increase. This report is the second in a series of studies examining the role of diasporas in development policy.
Download Report

Migrant Hometown Associations and Opportunities for Development: A Global Perspective
By Manuel Orozco and Rebecca Rouse, Inter-American Dialogue
Migration Information Source, February 2007
This article provides an overview of HTAs, active throughout the United States, Europe, and parts of East Asia, as well as the development role they play.




Diaspora Investment in Developing and Emerging Country Capital Markets: Patterns and Prospects
By Aaron Terrazas
Financial flows from migrants and their descendants are at the heart of the relationship between migration and development. There is little doubt that remittances can have important effects on financial development. But they represent only a fraction of the potential private financial flows originating from diasporas, with substantial evidence showing that diasporas hold substantial financial assets beyond their current income — for instance, in savings and retirement accounts, in property, debt, and equity. Remittances tap the incomes of migrants, but this report argues that the greater challenge is to mobilize the wealth of diasporas. Capital markets perform precisely this function, mobilizing savings and channeling them to productive investment. This report is the first in a series of six studies on the role of diasporas in development policy.
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The Political Importance of Diasporas
By Steve Vertovec, University of Oxford
Migration Information Source, June 2005
Belonging to a diaspora entails a consciousness of, or emotional attachment to, a place of origin and its culture. Steve Vertovec explains the role diasporas play in migrant-sending and migrant-receiving countries.

Protection through Integration: The Mexican Government's Efforts to Aid Migrants in the United States
By Laureen Laglagaron
Immigrant integration remains largely an afterthought in US immigration policy discussions and the country's integration policies remain chronically underfunded and limited in scope. Local and informal actors such as families and community-based organizations have historically taken on this responsibility. However, as this report explores, new partners are emerging. Mexico's efforts to help its migrants succeed in the United States offer a new example of an immigrant-sending country looking to improve its emigrants' lives and connect with its diaspora. The report examines the evolution of Mexico's approach to its migrants and details the activities of Mexico's Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME) in a first-ever attempt to map the expanding range of IME educational, health care, financial, and civic engagement programs.
Download Report
| Press Release | Listen/Download Event Audio

Refugee Diasporas, Remittances, Development, and Conflict
By Nicholas Van Hear, Institute for International Studies
Migration Information Source, June 2003
This article presents some of the distinct features of refugee diasporas, as well as their impact on development policy.

Beyond Remittances:
The Role of Diaspora in Poverty Reduction in the Their Countries of Origin

A Scoping Study by Kathleen Newland with Erin Patrick for the Department of International Development, UK, July 2004

This paper examines the role of diaspora in poverty reduction through four main areas of focus: policy and practice toward diaspora by countries of origin; diaspora economic, social and political engagement in countries of origin; donor engagement with diaspora; and recommendations to maximize the contribution of diaspora to development and poverty reduction. The report includes case studies of China, India, the Philippines, Mexico, Eritrea, and Taiwan, which are used to illustrate six contrasting patterns.

Iran: A Vast Diaspora Abroad and Millions of Refugees at Home
By Shirin Hakimzadeh
Migration Information Source, September 2006
Iran has long connected the great civilizations of Asia, the Near East and the Mediterranean. But since the Islamic Revolution, hundreds of thousands of highly skilled Iranians have emigrated while millions of refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq have entered the country. Shirin Hakimzadeh takes a detailed look at Iran's past and present migration issues.

Ghana: Searching for Opportunities at Home and Abroad
By Micah Bump, Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University
Migration Information Source, March 2006
Perhaps best known for its brain drain and the related success of its diaspora, Ghana also has an important role in West African migration patterns, past and present. Micah Bump of Georgetown's Institute for the Study of International Migration takes a detailed look at a country in transition.

Russia Beckons, But Diaspora Wary
By Timothy Heleniak, World Bank
Migration Information Source, October 2002
Will President Putin realize his dream of a mass return of the Russian diaspora? Timothy Heleniak assesses Russia's migration dilemma.

Assessing the Tsunami's Effects on Migration
By Frank Laczko and Elizabeth Collett, International Organization for Migration
Migration Information Source, April 2005
Asia’s tsunami will have an enduring impact on diaspora groups and immigration policy, write Frank Laczko and Elizabeth Collett of IOM.
 
General Resources on Migration and Development

Thailand at a Crossroads: Challenges and Opportunities in Leveraging Migration for Development
By Jerry Huguet, Aphichat Chamratrithirong, and Claudia Natali
With a robust and relatively open economy attracting low- and high-skilled workers from nearby countries and beyond, Thailand is well positioned to take advantage of the benefits of migration. This brief examines the country’s migration challenges ahead and the two basic approaches to regularizing labor migration: Memoranda of Understanding with migrant-sending neighbors and nationality verification as a preliminary step for work permit application by unauthorized immigrants.
Download Brief

Managing Temporary Migration: Lessons from the Philippine Model
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Developing countries can proactively manage large-scale, systematic, and legal movement of temporary migrant workers. This MPI report analyzes the system the Philippines uses to manage the temporary migration of millions of Filipinos who work in countries around the globe. For many observers, the Philippines' system of managing temporary migration has unrivaled sophistication, making it a model for other developing countries hoping to access the benefits of global labor mobility.
Download Report
Purchase a hard copy at the MPI bookstore: US | International

A New Surge of Interest in Migration and Development
By Kathleen Newland, Migration Policy Institute
Migration Information Source, February 2007

A number of governments and institutions are determined to ride international migration toward a future of greater prosperity. MPI's Kathleen Newland outlines what they should know about the pluses and minuses of the most basic issues that frame the debate on migration and development: remittances and the brain drain.

Migration and Development: Blind Faith and Hard-to-Find Facts
By Kimberly Hamilton
Migration Information Source, November 2003
Kim Hamilton outlines a research agenda for migration and development.
Migration as a Factor in Development and Poverty Reduction
By Kathleen Newland
Migration Information Source, June 2003
Kathleen Newland provides a concise overview of the impact of rich country migration policies on poor country development.
"Migration as a Factor in Development and Poverty Reduction: The Impact of Rich Countries' Immigration Policies on the Prospects of the Poor"
By Kathleen Newland
Impact of Rich Countries' Policies on Poor Countries: Towards a Level Playing Field in Development Cooperation
Transaction Press, 2004
"Realizing the Potential of Migrant 'Earn, Learn, and Return' Strategies: Does Policy Matter?"
By Kimberly Hamilton and Elizabeth Grieco
Commitment to Development Index
Center for Global Development, February 2004

Citizenship Policies for an Age of Migration
By T. Alexander Aleinikoff and Douglas Klusmeyer
(Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, May 2002)

Minimizing Development-Induced Displacement
By Courtland Robinson, Johns Hopkins University Migration Information Source, January 2004
Courtland Robinson analyzes steps to minimize the negative side of development, which has uprooted millions worldwide.

Fostering Cooperation Between Source and Destination Countries
By Susan Martin, Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University; Philip Martin, UC Davis; and Patrick Weil, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Migration Information Source, October 2002
Cultivating sustained cooperation between source and destination states is essential to migration management.

Reframing the Migration and Development Policy Discussion
By Sharon Stanton Russell, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Migration Information Source, June 2003

Migration and development are high on the international agenda, and Sharon Stanton Russell highlights emerging features of the new policy debate.

Remittances
New MPI Fact Sheet Provides First Look at the 2007 Slowdown in Remittances to Mexican States
By Aaron Matteo Terrazas
Fact Sheet No. 19, September 2007

In 2006, Mexico received an estimated $24.5 billion in remittances -- 11.3 percent of the total $276 billion in remittances worldwide. While migrant remittances to Mexico grew an average of 19.1 percent annually between 2003 and 2006, however, they increased by just 0.6 percent in the first half of 2007 compared to the first half of 2006. A new MPI fact sheet provides a first look remittances to Mexico by state for 2003 to 2007, highlighting the states that may be most severely affected by a slowdown in money coming in from migrants abroad in the first six months of 2007.
English | Español | Press Release
The Phenomenal Rise in Remittances to India: A Closer Look
By Muzaffar A. Chishti
Policy Brief, May 2007

India’s remittances have skyrocketed in the past 10 years, jumping from $2.1 billion in FY1990-1991 to $24.1 billion in FY2005-2006. India captures 10 percent of global remittances, making it the single largest recipient in the world. Muzaffar Chishti examines the factors behind this surge, from economic reforms to migrants’ shift to higher-skilled jobs. He finds that while remittances exceed total government expenditures in health and education, the Indian government has not instituted any policies specifically aimed at increasing remittance flows. Looking forward, the most significant factor in remittance and investment flows may ultimately be how Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) perceive the Indian economy, and the challenge for the government will be leveraging inflows of NRI capital for broader socioeconomic development.
Leveraging Remittances for Development
By Dilip Ratha, The World Bank
June 2007
In 2006, recorded remittances sent home by migrants from developing countries reached $206 billion, more than double the level in 2001. The true scale of remittances, including unrecorded flows through formal and informal channels, is believed to be even larger. Dilip Ratha looks at the growing importance of remittances and their impact on development.  He lays out a four-part international remittances agenda including (a) monitoring, analysis, and projection; (b) retail payment systems; (c) financial access of individuals or households; and (d) leveraging remittances for capital market access of financial institutions or countries.
Beyond Remittances:
The Role of Diaspora in Poverty Reduction in the Their Countries of Origin

A Scoping Study by Kathleen Newland with Erin Patrick for the Department of International Development, UK, July 2004

This paper examines the role of diaspora in poverty reduction through four main areas of focus: policy and practice toward diaspora by countries of origin; diaspora economic, social and political engagement in countries of origin; donor engagement with diaspora; and recommendations to maximize the contribution of diaspora to development and poverty reduction. The report includes case studies of China, India, the Philippines, Mexico, Eritrea, and Taiwan, which are used to illustrate six contrasting patterns.
Remittances and Development: Trends, Impacts, and Policy Options -- A Review of the Literature
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
September 2006

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the current academic and policy literature on remittances. Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias explores questions such as who sends and receives remittances, how much is remitted, methods by which remittances are sent, and what motivates migrants to send money home.  She also delves into the ongoing debate on the impact of remittances on development, going beyond a discussion of economic impacts to include political and social implications. The report reviews existing policy initiatives on remittances and emphasizes the still enormous challenges in making these programs work for development.
Remittances from the United States in Context
By Kevin O'Neil
Migration Information Source, June 2003
Kevin O'Neil outlines key aspects of remittances from the United States
Refugee Diasporas, Remittances, Development, and Conflict
By Nicholas Van Hear, Institute for International Studies
Migration Information Source, June 2003
This article presents some of the distinct features of refugee diasporas, as well as their impact on development policy.

Soaring Remittances Raise New Issues
By Richard Black, University of Sussex
Migration Information Source, June 2003
Global remittances by migrants seem to be on the rise, and Richard Black maps out the issues this presents for researchers and policymakers.

Discussion on Migration and Development: Using Remittances and Circular Migration as Drivers for Development
By Kevin O'Neil
Summary Report, April 2003

A New Surge of Interest in Migration and Development
By Kathleen Newland
Migration Information Source, February 2007
A number of governments and institutions are determined to ride international migration toward a future of greater prosperity. MPI's Kathleen Newland outlines what they all should know about the pluses and minuses of the most basic issues that frame the debate on migration and development: remittances and the brain drain.

Remittances
By Kevin O'Neil
Migration Information Source, June 2003
This article outlines key aspects of remittances from the United States.

 
Temporary Workers

Thailand at a Crossroads: Challenges and Opportunities in Leveraging Migration for Development
By Jerry Huguet, Aphichat Chamratrithirong, and Claudia Natali
With a robust and relatively open economy attracting low- and high-skilled workers from nearby countries and beyond, Thailand is well positioned to take advantage of the benefits of migration. This brief examines the country’s migration challenges ahead and the two basic approaches to regularizing labor migration: Memoranda of Understanding with migrant-sending neighbors and nationality verification as a preliminary step for work permit application by unauthorized immigrants.
Download Brief

Strengthening Pre-Departure Orientation Programmes in Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines
By Maruja M.B. Asis and Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
With overseas employment a more permanent feature of the development strategies of a number of Asian states, predeparture orientation programs have emerged as an important tool for the protection of migrant workers. This brief examines the strengths, limitations, and areas for improvement of this intervention, based on findings from field research conducted in Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines.
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Regulating Private Recruitment in the Asia-Middle East Labour Migration Corridor
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
The Middle East represents one of the most sought-after labor markets in the world, with an estimated 10 million contract workers (mostly Asian) in the Gulf states alone. The vast majority of this temporary labor movement is brokered by recruitment agencies, with oversight difficult. This brief examines how sometimes unscrupulous agencies take advantage of the migrants they purport to serve by charging excessive placement fees and offering expensive predeparture loans; it also outlines the available policy levers for regulating recruitment practices.
Download Brief

 

Migration's Middlemen: Regulating Recruitment Agencies in the Philippines-United Arab Emirates Corridor
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Private recruitment agencies manage much of the flow of the 200,000 Filipino workers who head to annually to the United Arab Emirates, which is the third-largest destination for Filipino migrants after the United States and Saudi Arabia. While the recruitment agencies provide critical services, some abuse their clients by charging exorbitant fees or violating basic human rights. This report, based on exhaustive interviews with key actors and migrants themselves, examines the recruiters' practices as well as their regulation by the Philippine and UAE governments, finding room for significant improvement.
Download Report | Press Release

Temporary High-Skilled Migration
By Maia Jachimowicz
Migration Information Source, November 2002
Globalization has made the international mobility of high-skilled workers a vital issue for the United States. MPI's Maia Jachimowicz and Policy Analyst Deborah W. Meyers explain the complicated visa system for high-skilled temporary workers.

 

Learning by Doing: Experiences of Circular Migration
By Kathleen Newland, Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, and Aaron Terrazas
Increasingly, policymakers are considering whether circular migration could improve the likelihood that global mobility gains will be shared by migrant-origin and destination countries alike — as well as by migrants themselves. This MPI Insight examines the record of circular migration, both where it has arisen naturally and where governments have taken action to encourage it.
Download Report | Press Release

 

Linking Temporary Worker Schemes with Development
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Migration Information Source, February 2007
Temporary workers, generally seen as a solution to the changing and growing economic needs of developed countries, rarely focus on the needs of migrant-sending countries. MPI's Dovelyn Agunias reviews relevant research and the policy options proposed for closing this gap.

 

The Growing Connection Between Temporary and Permanent Immigration Systems
By Jeanne Batalova
Task Force Insight No. 14, January 2006

The distinction between temporary and permanent migration, clearly demarcated in past decades, has become increasingly blurred. A new immigrant admissions system has emerged that is neith temporary nor permanent, but rather a transitional system that allows visa holders to prove their worth to employers and the broader economy.

Managing Temporary Migration: Lessons from the Philippine Model
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Developing countries can proactively manage large-scale, systematic, and legal movement of temporary migrant workers. This MPI report analyzes the system the Philippines uses to manage the temporary migration of millions of Filipinos who work in countries around the globe. For many observers, the Philippines' system of managing temporary migration has unrivaled sophistication, making it a model for other developing countries hoping to access the benefits of global labor mobility.
Download Report | Press Release
Purchase a hard copy at the MPI bookstore: US | International

Temporary Worker Programs: A Patchwork Policy Response
By Deborah W. Meyers
Task Force Insight No. 12, January 2006

In fiscal year 2004, the volume of admissions to the United States for temporary workers, trainees, and their dependants reached nearly 1.5 million people. Within these employment-based visa categories, temporary workers have dramatic variations of stay that range from three months to ten years, and many are transitioning to the permanent system.

Protecting Overseas Workers: Lessons and Cautions from the Philippines
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, MPI, and Neil Ruiz, Brookings Institution
Insight, September 2007
The world’s largest migrant welfare fund, the Philippines’ Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), shows that countries of origin can institutionalize protection of migrant workers through a mechanism for repatriation, provision of insurance and loans, and education and training. However, countries of origin must overcome several limitations to fully realize these benefits. The Philippine case highlights the importance of meeting the core needs of overseas workers without overextending the government’s capacity; political, administrative, and financial transparency and accountability; and the effective use of government resources. Destination countries should also establish mechanisms to protect migrant workers and help build capacity for welfare funds and countries of origin.

Temporary Work Programs Back in Fashion
Migration Information Source Top 10 Issues of 2005
The legacy of guest-worker programs has kept most Western countries from considering new schemes even when faced with low-skill labor shortages. But those attitudes began to shift in 2005.

 

US Temporary Worker Programs: Lessons Learned
By Doris Meissner
Migration Information Source, March 2004
This article examines the challenges and opportunities, past and present, posed by temporary migrant labor programs.

US Employment-Based Admissions: Permanent and Temporary
By Susan Martin, Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University
Task Force Policy Brief No. 15, January 2006

The pros and cons of existing temporary worker programs in the United States include giving employers a chance to test employees for their contributions to society and the economy, but in some cases, making temporary workers vulnerable to exploitation because they are dependent on specific employers or jobs for their legal status.

South Korea: Balancing Labor Demand with Strict Controls
By Young-bum Park, Hansung University, Seoul
Migration Information Source, December 2004
Young-bum Park outlines South Korea's response to temporary labor demands and its approach to integrating North Korean refugees.

Africa

Burkina Faso: Testing the Tradition of Circular Migration
By Brad Kress, UK's Centre for Research into Economic and Social Trends
Migration Information Source, May 2006
One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina Faso is a former French colony in Western Africa that has traditionally sent thousands of seasonal migrants to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Brad Kress examines the migration issues facing the country today.

Ghana: Searching for Opportunities at Home and Abroad
By Micah Bump, Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University
Migration Information Source, March 2006
Perhaps best known for its brain drain and the related success of its diaspora, Ghana also has an important role in West African migration patterns, past and present. Micah Bump of Georgetown's Institute for the Study of International Migration takes a detailed look at a country in transition.

Kenya: What Role for Diaspora in Development?
By Ken Okoth
Migration Information Source, August 2003
Kenya is looking to its educated diaspora to meet development goals and achieve global competitiveness, according to MPI’s Ken Okoth.
Beyond Remittances:
The Role of Diaspora in Poverty Reduction in the Their Countries of Origin

A Scoping Study by Kathleen Newland with Erin Patrick for the Department of International Development, UK, July 2004

This paper examines the role of diaspora in poverty reduction through four main areas of focus: policy and practice toward diaspora by countries of origin; diaspora economic, social and political engagement in countries of origin; donor engagement with diaspora; and recommendations to maximize the contribution of diaspora to development and poverty reduction. The report includes case studies of China, India, the Philippines, Mexico, Eritrea, and Taiwan, which are used to illustrate six contrasting patterns.
Cape Verde: Towards the End of Emigration?
By Jorgen Carling, International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)
Migration Information Source, November 2002
Very few countries have experienced emigration on a scale approaching that of Cape Verde. Jorgen Carling examines migration's effects on the country's past and present, as well as its implications for the future.

Morocco: From Emigration Country to Africa's Migration Passage to Europe
Hein de Haas, Radboud University, Nijmegen
Migration Information Source,

A source for Europe's labor needs since the 1960s, Moroccan migrants and their remittances are central to the economy back home. But Morocco is also becoming a transit and immigration country for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.
Version française

Asia

Thailand at a Crossroads: Challenges and Opportunities in Leveraging Migration for Development
By Jerry Huguet, Aphichat Chamratrithirong, and Claudia Natali
With a robust and relatively open economy attracting low- and high-skilled workers from nearby countries and beyond, Thailand is well positioned to take advantage of the benefits of migration. This brief examines the country’s migration challenges ahead and the two basic approaches to regularizing labor migration: Memoranda of Understanding with migrant-sending neighbors and nationality verification as a preliminary step for work permit application by unauthorized immigrants.
Download Brief

Regulating Private Recruitment in the Asia-Middle East Labour Migration Corridor
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
The Middle East represents one of the most sought-after labor markets in the world, with an estimated 10 million contract workers (mostly Asian) in the Gulf states alone. The vast majority of this temporary labor movement is brokered by recruitment agencies, with oversight difficult. This brief examines how sometimes unscrupulous agencies take advantage of the migrants they purport to serve by charging excessive placement fees and offering expensive predeparture loans; it also outlines the available policy levers for regulating recruitment practices.
Download Brief

Managing Temporary Migration: Lessons from the Philippine Model
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Developing countries can proactively manage large-scale, systematic, and legal movement of temporary migrant workers. This MPI report analyzes the system the Philippines uses to manage the temporary migration of millions of Filipinos who work in countries around the globe. For many observers, the Philippines' system of managing temporary migration has unrivaled sophistication, making it a model for other developing countries hoping to access the benefits of global labor mobility.
Download Report | Press Release
Purchase a hard copy at the MPI bookstore: US | International

Learning by Doing: Experiences of Circular Migration
By Kathleen Newland, Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, and Aaron Terrazas
Increasingly, policymakers are considering whether circular migration could improve the likelihood that global mobility gains will be shared by migrant-origin and destination countries alike — as well as by migrants themselves. This MPI Insight examines the record of circular migration, both where it has arisen naturally and where governments have taken action to encourage it.
Download Report | Press Release

Protecting Overseas Workers: Lessons and Cautions from the Philippines
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, MPI, and Neil Ruiz, Brookings Institution
Insight, September 2007

The world’s largest migrant welfare fund, the Philippines’ Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), shows that countries of origin can institutionalize protection of migrant workers through a mechanism for repatriation, provision of insurance and loans, and education and training. However, countries of origin must overcome several limitations to fully realize these benefits. The Philippine case highlights the importance of meeting the core needs of overseas workers without overextending the government’s capacity; political, administrative, and financial transparency and accountability; and the effective use of government resources. Destination countries should also establish mechanisms to protect migrant workers and help build capacity for welfare funds and countries of origin. As temporary worker programs gain increased international attention, both the accomplishments and the limitations of the Philippines’ experience offer guidance for policymakers in other countries seeking to expand temporary migration programs.

Brain Drain and Gain: The Case of Taiwan
By Kevin O'Neil
September 2003
Kevin O'Neil takes a close look at how Taiwan has reaped economic benefits from high-skilled migration.

The Phenomenal Rise in Remittances to India: A Closer Look
By Muzaffar A. Chishti
Policy Brief, May 2007

India’s remittances have skyrocketed in the past 10 years, jumping from $2.1 billion in FY1990-1991 to $24.1 billion in FY2005-2006. India captures 10 percent of global remittances, making it the single largest recipient in the world. Muzaffar Chishti examines the factors behind this surge, from economic reforms to migrants’ shift to higher-skilled jobs. He finds that while remittances exceed total government expenditures in health and education, the Indian government has not instituted any policies specifically aimed at increasing remittance flows. Looking forward, the most significant factor in remittance and investment flows may ultimately be how Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) perceive the Indian economy, and the challenge for the government will be leveraging inflows of NRI capital for broader socioeconomic development.
Related Migration Information Source article

Assessing the Tsunami's Effects on Migration
By Frank Laczko and Elizabeth Collett, International Organization for Migration
Migration Information Source, April 2005
Asia’s tsunami will have an enduring impact on diaspora groups and immigration policy, write Frank Laczko and Elizabeth Collett of IOM.

 

Beyond Remittances:
The Role of Diaspora in Poverty Reduction in the Their Countries of Origin

A Scoping Study by Kathleen Newland with Erin Patrick for the Department of International Development, UK, July 2004

: policy and practice toward diaspora by countries of origin; diaspora economic, social and political engagement in countries of origin; donor engagement with diaspora; and recommendations to maximize the contribution of diaspora to development and poverty reduction. The report includes case studies of China, India, the Philippines, Mexico, Eritrea, and Taiwan, which are used to illustrate six contrasting patterns.

Europe
Learning by Doing: Experiences of Circular Migration
By Kathleen Newland, Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, and Aaron Terrazas
Increasingly, policymakers are considering whether circular migration could improve the likelihood that global mobility gains will be shared by migrant-origin and destination countries alike — as well as by migrants themselves. This MPI Insight examines the record of circular migration, both where it has arisen naturally and where governments have taken action to encourage it.
Download Report | Press Release
Trans-Saharan Migration to North Africa and the EU: Historical Roots and Current Trends
Hein de Haas, University of Oxford
Migration Information Source, November 2006
Sub-Saharan Africans are increasingly migrating to North African countries, with some using the region as a point of transit to Europe and some remaining in North Africa. Hein de Haas of the University of Oxford examines the the region’s migration trends.
Migrations Transsahariennes vers l'Afrique du Nord et l'UE: Origines Historiques et Tendances Actuelles

(Version française)

Gaining from Migration: Towards a New Mobility System
A new report lead written by Demetrios G. Papademetriou and Gregory A. Maniatis finds that a functioning migration system in Europe must treat sending and transit countries as genuine partners. The report recommends that EU policymakers forego restrictive rhetoric and instead create more legal channels and flexible options for immigrants’ entry and stay to attract workers in industries that most need them. At the same time, and in recognition of the fact that immigration cannot succeed unless immigrants integrate successfully, European countries must become more flexible in giving immigrants access to their labor markets and political systems. 
Executive Summary | Press Release

Immigrants and EU Labor Markets
By Louka T. Katseli, OECD Development Centre
Migration Information Source, December 2004
Louka Katseli explains why effective migration policies in Europe are as much a political as a technical issue.
Europe Attracts More Migrants from China
By Frank Laczo, International Organization for Migration
Migration Information Source, July 2003
Frank Laczko examines how increasing numbers of Chinese immigrants are entering Europe.
Morocco: From Emigration Country to Africa's Migration Passage to Europe
Hein de Haas, University of Oxford
Migration Information Source, October 2005
A source for Europe's labor needs since the 1960s, Moroccan migrants and their remittances are central to the economy back home. But Morocco is also becoming a transit and immigration country for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.
Maroc: De pays d'émigration vers passage migratoire africain vers l'Europe
(Version française)
Latin America and the Caribbean

Protection through Integration: The Mexican Government's Efforts to Aid Migrants in the United States
By Laureen Laglagaron
Immigrant integration remains largely an afterthought in US immigration policy discussions and the country's integration policies remain chronically underfunded and limited in scope. Local and informal actors such as families and community-based organizations have historically taken on this responsibility. However, as this report explores, new partners are emerging. Mexico's efforts to help its migrants succeed in the United States offer a new example of an immigrant-sending country looking to improve its emigrants' lives and connect with its diaspora. The report examines the evolution of Mexico's approach to its migrants and details the activities of Mexico's Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME) in a first-ever attempt to map the expanding range of IME educational, health care, financial, and civic engagement programs.
Download Report
| Press Release | Listen/Download Event Audio

Migration and Development: Lessons from the Mexican Experience
By Raúl Delgado-Wise, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, and Luis Eduardo Guarnizo, University of California Davis
Migration Information Source, February 2007
Mexico has often been cited as a successful example of the positive relationship between migration and development. But Raúl Delgado-Wise and Luis Eduardo Guarnizo show why Mexico's model is unsustainable.

Variable Impacts: State-level Analysis of the Slowdown in the Growth of Remittances to Mexico
In 2006, Mexico received an estimated $24.5 billion in remittances -- 11.3 percent of the total $276 billion in remittances worldwide. While migrant remittances to Mexico grew an average of 19.1 percent annually between 2003 and 2006, however, they increased by just 0.6 percent in the first half of 2007 compared to the first half of 2006. A new MPI fact sheet provides a first look remittances to Mexico by state for 2003 to 2007, highlighting the states that may be most severely affected by a slowdown in money coming in from migrants abroad in the first six months of 2007.
English | Español | Press Release

Remittance Trends in Central America
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Migration Information Source, April 2006
In 2004, Central American countries received US$ 7.8 billion in remittances through official channels. Are remittances hurting or helping the region? .
Ecuador: Diversity in Migration
By Brad Jokish, Ohio University
Migration Information Source, February 2007
Thousands of Ecuadorians live in the United States and Spain, making migration-related development policy a major issue for the government. At the same time, the country has received economic migrants from Peru but has done little to address the Colombian refugee situation.
Haga clic para leer el artículo en español.
United States
Learning by Doing: Experiences of Circular Migration
By Kathleen Newland, Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, and Aaron Terrazas
Increasingly, policymakers are considering whether circular migration could improve the likelihood that global mobility gains will be shared by migrant-origin and destination countries alike — as well as by migrants themselves. This MPI Insight examines the record of circular migration, both where it has arisen naturally and where governments have taken action to encourage it.
Download Report | Press Release
Remittances
By Kevin O'Neil
Migration Information Source, June 2003
This article outlines key aspects of remittances from the United States.

US Employment-Based Admissions: Permanent and Temporary
By Susan Martin, Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University
Task Force Policy Brief No. 15, January 2006

The pros and cons of existing temporary worker programs in the United States include giving employers a chance to test employees for their contributions to society and the economy, but in some cases, making temporary workers vulnerable to exploitation because they are dependent on specific employers or jobs for their legal status.

 

Temporary Worker Programs: A Patchwork Policy Response
By Deborah W. Meyers
Task Force Insight No. 12, January 2006

In fiscal year 2004, the volume of admissions to the United States for temporary workers, trainees, and their dependants reached nearly 1.5 million people. Within these employment-based visa categories, temporary workers have dramatic variations of stay that range from three months to ten years, and many are transitioning to the permanent system.

The Growing Connection Between Temporary and Permanent Immigration Systems
By Jeanne Batalova
Task Force Insight No. 14, January 2006

The distinction between temporary and permanent migration, clearly demarcated in past decades, has become increasingly blurred. A new immigrant admissions system has emerged that is neith temporary nor permanent, but rather a transitional system that allows visa holders to prove their worth to employers and the broader economy.

Remittances from the United States in Context
By Kevin O'Neil
Migration Information Source, June 2003
Kevin O'Neil outlines key aspects of remittances from the United States.