Ian Goldin, Irena Omelaniuk and Boris Najman

International migration is both a cause and a consequence of an interconnected world. About 180 million people worldwide live outside their country of birth. Future pressure for international migration will be great, driven by differences in demographics and real incomes between countries. Research shows that, although the largest economic gains from immigration accrue to the immigrants themselves, the international migration of labor can also benefit both the countries receiving immigrants and the countries sending them, and that it boosts world income and reduces poverty. In the receiving countries, migrants can fill labor shortages in certain industries. In the sending countries, they can help ease unemployment pressures and increase financial inflows, in the form of remittances from the migrants to their families back home. Remittances also help equilibrate the distribution of income. Worldwide remittances have doubled in the last decade, reaching $216 billion in 2004, according to official statistics, of which $151 billion is estimated to have gone to developing countries. Actual remittances are most likely higher, because remittances through informal channels are not counted.

The major issues surrounding international migration are how to help countries adapt to large-scale migration, and how to improve its global development impact. Equitable migration is a global concern because it is ultimately linked to other broader issues such as poverty reduction and human rights. Research on this global issue is still in its early stages, however. In 2003 the United Nations appointed a Global Commission on International Migration. This seminar will discuss the complex issues involved in international migration and remittances, such as incentives, governance, and inter-linkages with other issues.

Download the main paper (PDF file), and papers on Gender, Poverty & Migration (PDF file), Remittances (PDF file), and the presentations on Migrations (PPT file), Gender and Migration, Remittances and a Transnational Perspective on Migrations (PPT file).

Samuel Munzele Maimbo, Dilip Ratha, (eds), "Remittances, Development Impact and Future Prospects", The World Bank Group

Caglar Ozden, Maurice Schiff , "International Migration, Remittances, and the Brain Drain", The World Bank Group

Timothy J . Hatton and Jeffrey G. Williamson, The Age of Mass Migration: Causes and Economic Impact. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Adams, Richard, and Page, John, "International Migration, Remittances and Poverty in Developing Countries," Policy Research Working Paper no. 3179, 2003.

Stark, Oded, “The Economics of the Brain Drain Turned on its Head,” paper for ABCDE Europe, June 24-26, 2002, Oslo.

Yusuf, Shahid, “Globalization and the Challenge for Developing Countries,” Policy Research Working Paper no. 2168, June 2001. (Includes discussion on diasporas and trade)

Vinay Bhargava. “An Introduction to Global Issues”. Paper for Global Issues Seminar Series-Fall 2005/Session # 1.

International Labour Migration (ILO)ILM database

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner (UN Refugee Agency)

OECD on International Migration (publications and documents)