Migration and Remittances in Europe and Central Asia
Begins:
Feb 05, 2009
Ends:
Feb 05, 2009
INFO
A number of countries in the ECA region have experienced increasing inflows from migrant worker remittances over the past several years, and the economic growth and poverty reduction achievements in most countries have been intertwined with the migration and remittance trends observed. As a result, however, of the current global financial crisis and economic slowdown, and especially the anticipated decline of growth in Russia and Kazakhstan, two main host countries for labor migrants from other parts of the region, governments are seeking ways to cushion their country’s economy from the possible large-scale return of migrants and to a decrease in remittance flows that would negatively affect the current account position.
This first session in this series will provide an overview of the effects of the current situation on migrants, remittances and poverty, focusing on issues faced by both "sending" and "hosting" countries in the current downturn. The session will in particular explore ways in which remittance transfers could be made less expensive and could be better channeled to savings and support entrepreneurship.
Program Speakers
At World Bank, Washington: GDLN Studio2, Room MC-C2-123
INTRODUCTION:
Mr. Sudharshan Canagarajah, Lead Economist, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Dept, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank;
PANELISTS:
Mr. Luca Barbone, Director, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Dept, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank;
Mr. Dilip Ratha, Lead Economist, Development Prospects Group, World Bank
RESOURCE EXPERT:
Mr. Willem van Eeghen, Lead Economist, Chief Economist Office, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank
MODERATOR:
Mr. Gary Fine, Sr. Private Sector Development Specialist, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank
For additional information, please contact: Sudharshan Canagarajah, program team leader, scanagarajah@worldbank.org, tel. +1 202 473 4458 Gary Fine, ECA regional GDLN coordinator, gfine@worldbank.org, tel. +1 202 473 4741
AGENDA
6:00
Pre-Video Conference Local Workshop
All Sites Except Washington
7:00
Coffee Break
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7:20
Participants Back in Their Seats for Start of Video Conference
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7:30
Greetings; Brief Discussion with Each Site on Results of the Pre-Conference Workshop
Mr. Gary Fine
8:05
Introduction and Objectives of This Series
Migration and Remittances in ECA: Challenges and Opportunites, A Knowledge Sharing Series (ppt) (English)(Russian)
Participating GDLN Affiliate or World Bank Country Office
Local World Bank Program Facilitator or local GDLN affiliate contact
Astana, Kazakhstan
World Bank Country Office
Ms. Oxana Miller
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Rep.
World Bank Country Office
Mr. Damir Esenaliev
Chisinau, Moldova
Moldovan Academy of Sciences (MAS)
Mr. Victor Neagu Ms. Natalia Rusu, MAS
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
World Bank Country Office
Mr. Utkir Umarov
Moscow, Russian Federation
World Bank Country Office
Mr. Andrei Markov
Perm’, Russian Federation
Perm’ State Technical University
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Yerevan, Armenia
American University of Armenia (AUA)
Mr. Aghassi Mkrtchyan Mr. Igor Mkrtumyan, (AUA)
*GDLN, or the Global Development Learning Network, is a partnership of distance learning centers worldwide dedicated to development. This event is coordinated by the Modern Humanities University, GDLN affiliate, Moscow, Russia .
SPEAKERS’ BIOS
Mr. Sudharshan Canagarajah, a Lead Economist in the Europe and Central Asia Region (ECA) of the World Bank, is currently in charge of economic policy matters for Tajikistan. He has been with the World Bank for about fifteen years in several positions in different world regions and has published extensively in economic growth, fiscal policy, poverty, public expenditure and labor market issues. Mr. Canagarajah is currently involved in extensive analytical and policy work on migration and economic growth issues in ECA. He holds a PhD in economics from Cambridge University.
Mr. Luca Barbone is the director of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management of the Europe and Central Asia Region (ECA) of the World Bank, where he supervises, among many other subjects, work on migration and remittances issues across the Region. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Barbone served as the Secretary of the Migration Working Group of the World Bank, representing the institution in several public fora on migration issues. Mr. Barbone holds a Doctorate in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. Dilip Ratha is a Lead Economist and Manager of the Migration and Remittances Team in the Development Prospects Group at the World Bank. He has been working on development finance and emerging markets for nearly two decades at the World Bank, and prior to that, at Credit Agricole Indosuez, Singapore; Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad; the Policy Group, New Delhi; and Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi. Mr. Ratha is an expert on remittances and migration and is the author of of various publications on the topic. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi.
Mr. Willem van Eeghen is a Lead Economist in the Chief Economist Office of the World Bank's Europe and Central Asia Region. He has worked in several regions of the World Bank and has written about public expenditures, labor market, poverty and migration issues. He currently manages a pilot study that tests the effectiveness of incentives that promote circular migration programs. Mr. van Eeghen hold a doctorate degree in economics from the Rijkuniversiteit, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Questions for Discussion at Pre-Video Conference Workshop
A workshop will be held at each site, to give participants a chance to discuss key issue among themselves immediately prior to the start of the video conference. Results of the workshop will be discussed at the opening of the video conference. The following questions will be discussed:
How can we make the most of migration and remittances to benefit our respective countries?
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