Briefing Paper No. 17. Migration and the Financial Crisis: How Will the Economic Downturn Affect Migrants?

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 1 January 2009

Country:: Thailand, India, China, Philippines and Indonesia
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Japan, United States, Mexico, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and Turkey
Document Type:: Briefing
Theme:: Social Change
Authors:: Skeldon, R. and Sward, J.

Abstract

During the past decade, migration has increasingly been seen as having potential benefits for development, as well as significant risks and costs. Given this, how will the current economic downturn impact on migration's potential contribution to development? This briefing explores this question by looking at how past economic crises have affected migration, and by considering the likely implications of the current financial crisis for the migration-development nexus. The prospect of rising unemployment among migrants, a possible decrease in migrant remittances, a rise in return migration and the further stigmatisation of migrant communities all threaten migration's potential to aid development efforts. In closing, the briefing suggests policies to help sustain the migration-development nexus during the crisis.

Citation

DRC on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty, Brighton, UK, 4 pp.