This publication showcases the beginnings of the People‘s Republic of China–Asian Development Bank knowledge sharing platform, its context, activities, challenges, and lessons learned. It concludes by mapping out the next steps to bring it to its strategic mission.
During the 2008 financial crisis, the possible changes in remittance-sending behavior and potential avenues to alleviate a probable decline in remittance flows became concerns. This book brings together a wide array of studies from around the world focusing on the recent trends in remittance flows. The authors have gathered a select group of researchers from academic, practitioner and policy making bodies. Thus the book can be seen as a conversation between the different stakeholders involved in or affected by remittance flows globally. The book is a first-of-its-kind attempt to analyze the effects of an ongoing crisis on remittance flows globally. Data analyzed by the book reveals three trends. First, The more diversified the destinations and the labour markets for migrants the more resilient are the remittances sent by migrants. Second, the lower the barriers to labor mobility, the stronger the link between remittances and economic cycles in that corridor. And third, as remittances proved to be relatively resilient in comparison to private capital flows, many remittance-dependent countries became even more dependent on remittance inflows for meeting external financing needs. There are several reasons for migration and remittances to be relatively resilient to the crisis. First, remittances are sent by the stock (cumulative flows) of migrants, not only by the recent arrivals (in fact, recent arrivals often do not remit as regularly as they must establish themselves in their new homes). Second, contrary to expectations, return migration did not take place as expected even as the financial crisis reduced employment opportunities in the US and Europe. Third, in addition to the persistence of migrant stocks that lent persistence to remittance flows, existing migrants often absorbed income shocks and continued to send money home. Fourth, if some migrants did return or had the intention to return, they tended to take their savings back to their country of origin. Finally, exchange rate movements during the crisis caused unexpected changes in remittance behavior: as local currencies of many remittance recipient countries depreciated sharply against the US dollar, they produced a “sale” effect on remittance behavior of migrants in the US and other destination countries.
"South-South Migration and Remittances" reports on preliminary results from an ongoing effort to improve data on bilateral migration stocks. It sets out some working hypotheses on the determinants and socioeconomic implications of South-South migration. Contrary to popular perception that migration is mostly a South-North phenomenon, South-South migration is large. Available data from national censuses suggest that nearly half of the migrants from developing countries reside in other developing countries. Almost 80 percent of South-South migration takes place between countries with contiguous borders. Estimates of South-South remittances range from 9 to 30 percent of developing countries' remittance receipts in 2005. Although the impact of South-South migration on the income of migrants and natives is smaller than for South-North migration, small increases in income can have substantial welfare implications for the poor. The costs of South-South remittances are even higher than those of North-South remittances. These findings suggest that policymakers should pay attention to the complex challenges that developing countries face not only as countries of origin, but also as countries of destination.
The adoption by WHO's Member States of the Global Code of Practice in the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, and the implementation of it by so many countries, represent two of the biggest steps in recent years towards solving the shortage of health-care workers around the world. The countries' response has been a momentous achievement. Now, a third big step is being taken with the publication of this book. It underlines WHO's unwavering commitment to supporting the implementation of the Code and provides a wide range of detailed examples from the countries themselves of how they are tackling the many complex issues involved. It provides not just numerous insights into progress but also gives other countries valuable guidance and recommendations on how they, too, can implement the Code. Countries are encouraged to learn from the shared experiences, domestic solutions and multi-lateral cooperation described in this book, and move ahead to support and advance the Code's aspirational principles. By doing so, they also strengthen the campaign towards Universal Health Care -- a campaign that requires innovative solutions to the health workforce shortage in order to be successful. The crux of the Code is the development of human resources for health through all aspects of education, improved retention and fair recruitment practices while encouraging technical collaboration and financial support. WHO is playing a leading role in these initiatives and stands ready to assist all its Member States in implementing the Code. We strongly recommend this book to health policy-makers and decision-takers in governments, nongovernmental organizations and other partners and stakeholders, including civil society. They will find it an indispensable guide to a better future for health-care personnel and the people they serve.
Migration presents a stark policy dilemma. Research repeatedly confirms that migrants, their families back home, and the countries that welcome them experience large economic and social gains. Easing immigration restrictions is one of the most effective tools for ending poverty and sharing prosperity across the globe. Yet, we see widespread opposition in destination countries, where migrants are depicted as the primary cause of many of their economic problems, from high unemployment to declining social services. Moving for Prosperity: Global Migration and Labor Markets addresses this dilemma. In addition to providing comprehensive data and empirical analysis of migration patterns and their impact, the report argues for a series of policies that work with, rather than against, labor market forces. Policy makers should aim to ease short-run dislocations and adjustment costs so that the substantial long-term benefits are shared more evenly. Only then can we avoid draconian migration restrictions that will hurt everybody. Moving for Prosperity aims to inform and stimulate policy debate, facilitate further research, and identify prominent knowledge gaps. It demonstrates why existing income gaps, demographic differences, and rapidly declining transportation costs mean that global mobility will continue to be a key feature of our lives for generations to come. Its audience includes anyone interested in one of the most controversial policy debates of our time.
Offering an in-depth analysis of the impact of the economic crisis (2008–2012) on immigration movements and policies in the U.S. and Europe, the analysis in this book is guided by two key questions: What is the scope of change?; and did the crisis motivate this change or did other factors do so? The contributions to the book find that the crisis had immediate effects on migration patterns – migrants left crisis-stricken countries, naturalised in non-crisis countries where they had previously settled, or stopped migrating to formerly attractive countries which had been negatively affected by the crisis. Whereas prior to the crisis the majority of migrants were highly-skilled, during the crisis there was a shift to vulnerable groups such as low-skilled workers and women. The book also finds that migration policies have indeed changed in times of crisis. However, these changes are neither exclusively restrictions nor liberalisations, but encompass changes in both directions. Despite the coincidence of many policy changes with the crisis, these changes are not primarily induced by the crisis. Instead, politicians rhetorically used the crisis to promote both liberal and restrictive policy changes which were already in the making before the crisis. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.
Why have ninety million workers around the globe left their homes for employment in other countries? What can be done to ensure that international labor migration is a force for global betterment? This groundbreaking book presents the most comprehensive analysis of the causes and effects of labor migration available, and it recommends sensible, sustainable migration policies that are fair to migrants and to the countries that open their doors to them. The authors survey recent trends in international migration for employment and demonstrate that the flow of authorized and illegal workers over borders presents a formidable challenge in countries and regions throughout the world. They note that not all migration is from undeveloped to developed countries and discuss the murky relations between immigration policies and politics. The book concludes with specific recommendations for justly managing the world’s growing migrant workforce.
This book seeks to explore the development and policy implications of South-South migration, specifically with regard to the role and challenges for social policy. It examines the linkages and impact of migration on gender and care regimes, human resource flows, remittances, poverty, and political organizations by or for migrants.
The current global economic crisis is impacting migration patterns and processes around the world. A reduction in migration flows globally has been reported. Migrant workers are laid off, and while some return home, others stay. How to respond to these migration impacts poses challenges for policymakers in both countries of origin and destination. Against this background, this Report considers the lessons for migration policy to be learned from the major financial crises of the 20h century, namely the Great Depression (1930s), the oil crisis (1973), the Asian financial crisis (1997-1999), the financial crisis in Russia (1998), and the Latin American financial crisis (1998-2002). As the impact of previous crises on migrants and migration has been uneven and unequal across countries and regions, depending on a range of factors, this Report draws out the wider lessons for policy that can be learned from previous responses to economic crises.