International migration: economic causes, consequences, evaluation, and policies
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
The 70's have witnessed a number of events which are again focussing
attention of economists on international migration: the dramatic emergence of
the Middle East labor markets is affecting the economies of the low income
Middle Eastern nations and of South Asia on a large scale; the world recession
with its associated unemployment in North America and Western Europe has stimulated
increased conservatism with regard to immigration policy; increasing
tension in Southern Africa has raised interest in the continuing role of South
Africa as a major employer of workers from neighboring countries; and the longstanding
rhetoric against the brain-drain from poorer nations has persisted.
The present paper attempts to provide a synopsis of some of the economic
issues pertinent to the consideration of these phenomena, and is organized into
four main sections. Section I deliberates some of the causes of international
migration, drawing in part on the literature on internal migration. Section II
then proceeds to consider some of the economic consequences of international migration.
This section is subdivided into two parts: the first dealing with migration
in promoting global and national productive efficiency -- a subject of
much attention in economic theory; the second addressing some of the questions
on international and internal distribution of incomes. Section III deals with
an area in which almost no literature exists: building on the results of the previous
sections, a framework for considering cost-benefit evaluation studies of
international migration is briefly outlined. Finally, the fourth section discusses
some of the policy instruments used today, or which might be adopted,
for promoting, discouraging or changing the nature of international migration
a discussion based on the summary of causes and consequences, and ultimately
requiring some form of evaluation prior to implementation.
Description
African Studies Center Working Paper No. 21
License
Copyright © 1979, by the author.