Maximising the Development Outcomes of Migration: A policy perspective

Article

This paper maps and explores the policy territory for improving migration's development impacts, including but also going beyond migration policy and development policy. We set out what areas of policy this might contain, as well as some practical examples of where such policies have been put in place and their effects. As a result, we hope to increase awareness of the number of levers available to policymakers to maximise migration's benefits and minimise its costs; as well as providing a more systematic approach to considering policy in this area to help others identify more levers in the future.

It is becoming increasingly clear that migration can have important impacts upon development. As a result, policymakers are searching for ways to increase migration's developmental benefits, and decrease its costs. But what are the levers for doing so?

Some of the earliest efforts to maximise the development impacts of migration focused on migration policy, and specifically on opening up more channels for developing country citizens to move into higher wage labour markets. The hope was that this would maximise remittances, thereby promoting development. However, this strategy has come up against a number of problems.

This paper maps and explores the policy territory for improving migration's development impacts, including but also going beyond migration policy and development policy. We set out what areas of policy this might contain, as well as some practical examples of where such policies have been put in place and their effects. As a result, we hope to increase awareness of the number of levers available to policymakers to maximise migration's benefits and minimise its costs; as well as providing a more systematic approach to considering policy in this area to help others identify more levers in the future.

This is the 4th paper from ippr's Development on the Move project.

Related items

  1. Two young children run playing underneath a rainbow canopy in a park or garden

    It takes a village: Empowering families and communities to improve children's health

    How can we build the healthiest generation of children ever?

  2. Scotland: Taxed enough already? Maybe not

    It is possible to make the case for progressive increases in income tax while in government. You can win the argument, and the world won’t come to an end.  
  3. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, River Thames and Westminster Bridge

    Fairness first: How the budget can make life better and the economy stronger

    The chancellor faces a daunting task at the upcoming budget. A fiscal gap sets the stage, putting the chancellor in the unenviable position of having to raise taxes.