The Benefits of Migration

Abstract

This article focuses on the potential benefits of migration. Using the author's previous research on remittances and return migration, some of the welfare gains that can stem from the migratory process are highlighted. In the first part of the article, the impact of remittances on child well-being in Vietnam is investigated. Both the incidence of child labour and school attendance rates in remittance recipient households are assessed. In the second part of the article, the contribution made by Tunisian return migrants to the development of their country of origin is examined. Both analyses suggest that, if certain conditions are met, migration can produce beneficial outcomes for the people and the countries involved in the process.

How do population movements fit within the framework of systemic risk?

“…For example, rural-to-urban migration of parents often generates educational, behavioral and health advantages for children remaining behind due to the improvement of collective socio-economic conditions [90]. Likewise, a panel study conducted on 2054 Vietnamese households showed positive outcomes of migration for the wellbeing of children aged 6 to 15 years in remittance-receiving households [8].…”

“…Population movements and their impacts tie places together by creating interdependencies and feedbacks. Binci [8], for instance, highlighted the benefits of Tunisian migration towards Italy, for the migrants, their country of origin and destination. Many migrants earned and saved money that they invested in open businesses back in Tunisia.…”

Problematising the interplay between employment relations, migration and mobility

“…The last decade has seen a significant increase in international migration and mobility of workers (Mitchell et al , 2011; Binci, 2012); for instance, in 2010, the United Nations estimated the total number of international migrants to be 214 million (an increase of 20 per cent from the 178 million in 2000), and there are suggestions that “more people live outside their country of origin today than at any time in history” (Henning and Hovy, 2011, p. 980). Given the prevalence of both intra‐ and inter‐regional migration and mobility, some scholars (cf.…”

“…Whilst it has been argued (cf. Binci, 2012) that migration and geographical mobility can have a positive “transformative effect” on both workers as well as their employing organisations; there is also an identified “fear” of migrant workers (Nyberg‐Sørensen et al , 2002, p. 7). This has led to what has been termed as an “international migration crisis” (Weiner, 1995; McGovern, 2007), which some authors (cf.…”