Population and International migration

International migration is a conspicous form of population interaction between richer and poorer countries. This paper makes an assessment of the dimensions of past and present day migration, its determinants, the effects on sending countries, costs and benefits and the nature of constraints on free movement of people.

The paper puts together available data show that the present scale of permanent emigration, in contrast to nineteenth and early twenieth century migration from Europe, can only absorb a small proportion of population growth in developing countries. Temporary migration, undoubtedly important for a few countries, constitutes a small proportion of the labor force in all developing countries.

Immigration policies of immigrant countries are shown to be generally restrictive, although responsive to economic conditions such as the degree of substitution between foreign and domestic labor, shifts in the demand for labor caused by particular policies and structural changes. Over time however, immigration policies tend to become restrictive partly because of the social and political problems of integrating large foreign populations.

Drawing upon various studies, the supply response is analyzed in terms of responses of different labor-supplying countries to income differentials, domestic economic conditions, and cultural factors. Government. initiatives in labor supplying countries to increase market shares are examined. Available data on (temporary) migrant characteristics is put together to analyze which individuals try to or actually emigrate. Although data do not permit clear conclusions, they suggest that the financial costs of migration can be high (making it necessary for potential migrants to borrow) thus making it difficult for the very poor or unemployed to migratte. Studies also indicate that temporary workers are generally young adult males, married, and better educated than the general population. The proportion of women is low but increases over time.

Data on migrant's savings and remittances and the effects of remittances on family expenditures is examined to show that migrants and their households are high savers and there is a pronounced preference for spending on housing, land, and new construction. Indirect evidence also suggests that investment out of wage income can make a significant contribution to crop and cattle production.

The empirical literature on macroeconomic effects in labor sending countries is extremely fragmented but does show that there can be sharp increases in wages, often of unskilled workers. Skilled worker vacancies. caused partly by emigration are however more difficult to fill. In rural areas, while there is evidence of shifts in cropping patterns to higher value crops as well as investment in crop and cattle production, there is also evidence of land left uncultivated despite increased acquisition of land. Remittances are shown to be an important source of foreign exchange for several countries; in a few instances government has provided special import facilities for migrants--these imports although not a large proportion of remittances have included cars and vehicles and other consumer goods.