Migration and Globalization: What’s in It for Developing Countries?

This paper reviews a growing literature on migration and globalization, focusing on its relevance for developing and emerging economies

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to document the role of diaspora networks in enhancing cross-border flows of goods, capital, and knowledge, eventually contributing to efficient specialization, investment, and productivity growth in the migrants’ home-countries. Particular attention is paid to the role of skilled migrants, and to information imperfections reduction as the main channel for the documented effects.

This paper reviews a growing literature on migration and globalization, focusing on its relevance for developing and emerging economies.

In reviewing the literature on the effects of migration on other dimensions of international economic interactions, this paper shows that migrants contribute to the integration of their country into the world market, which can be particularly important for economic growth in developing countries.

It documents the role of diaspora networks in enhancing cross-border flows of goods, capital, and knowledge, eventually contributing to efficient specialization, investment, and productivity growth in the migrants’ home-countries. Particular attention is paid to the role of skilled migrants, and to information imperfections reduction as the main channel for the documented effects.

This research is part of the Gender, Growth and Labour Markets in Low-Income Countries programme

Citation

Rapoport, H. (2016), “Migration and globalization: what’s in it for developing countries?”, International Journal of Manpower, Vol. 37 No. 7, pp. 1209-1226. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-08-2015-0116

Migration and Globalization: What’s in It for Developing Countries?

Published 26 July 2016