Lesson 5
Global Migration
How can migration promote stability, growth and development
How global migration can promote stability, growth, and
development within and between countries through flows of
people, money, ideas, and technology: (positive effects)
Stability - Migrant remittances are a source of
foreign exchange which can contribute
to economic stability of the recipient
country – therefore it helps a country
develop
- Returning migrants help their nation’s
political situation and they would have
acquired new ideas and values
including democracy and equality
which can contribute to peacebuilding
and conflict resolution.
- Where there is an ageing population
e.g., Japan, youthful migrant working
populations contribute to a more
balance age structure and population
growth
Economic growth - Economic growth can be stimulated by
migration in various ways. This includes
increased tax payments by working
migrants and stimulating the economy
through opening of new markets for food,
music and clothing.
- The GDP and tax base of the host nation can
be boosted by working migrants
- migrants as consumers themselves can
stimulate local economies in a host country,
even opening up new markets in demand
for clothing, food, music, etc, e.g., the UK
migrants have opened Polish shops to meet
demand of new migrants
- Migrants can fill skills gap and shortages in
the labour market of a host country at a
local and national scales
- Migrant remittances can supplement
household income, stimulate consumption,
provide funds for local investment, and
stimulate local multiplier effects in the
country of origin of the migrants
Development - Skills and knowledge acquired by retuning
migrants can be of benefit to countries of
origin.
- Migrants can create networks which ease
flows of skills, financial resources, values,
and ideas through their links to diaspora
, Lesson 5
Global Migration
(the spread of ethnic or national group from
their homeland e.g., Jews from Israel or
Kurds from Kurdistan) associations,
including professional, business, social and
religious networks
- UN ‘migration and development’ projects
between partner countries and involving
families, local authorities, and public and
private services providers in effective
‘bottom-up’ approaches to development
Example of diaspora networking: CD4D in the Netherlands
Connecting Diaspora for Development (CD4D) in run by the UN’s
International Organization for Migration (IOM). CD4D supports the
development of targeted sectors in selected countries that have diaspora
communities in the Netherlands. Engaging diaspora with their country of
origin is an important role of the IOM. This project encourages diaspora to
use their professional knowledge in the development of their country of
origin. Many countries have a high number of professionals resident in the
Netherlands. These nations suffer brain drains when their young
professionals move abroad. The CD4D project connects these young
people with priority sectors in their home nations. This includes healthcare
in Afghanistan, agriculture, education and healthcare in Ethiopia,
infrastructure in Somalia and ICT in Ghana. The project encourages
connections between diaspora and their home country but also
connections between diaspora within the Netherlands itself.
UN migration and development projects are being developed (overseen by
the IOM) between partner countries and involving families, local
authorities, public and private service providers in ‘bottom up’ approaches
to development.
Flows:
International organisations such as the UN and international organisation
for Migration (IOM) recognise the importance of migration as a key factor
in development. Global migrations are intrinsically related to flows of
money, ideas, and technology. This transfer of resources is significant in
promoting stability, growth and development. Monetary transfers are
most evident in the billions of dollars sent worldwide as migrant
remittances. These flows of money have been made easier, more
efficient, and more secure by the use of technology. This includes mobile
money transfers made more reliable by cash transfer programming and
the use of smartphones, which have become more prevalent.
Global migration also leads to the geographical diffusion of ideas,
information and values which can be transmitted back to the place of