Six subtopics have been identified that are both important from a development viewpoint and that need additional research. Determinants and Impact of Migration and Remittances
The research program is putting a lot of effort and resources in generating new data on household and migrant characteristics and on remittances. This is being done through household surveys that include a migration and remittance module. Brain drain
This issue is at the forefront of developing countries’ concerns, and raises many more questions than available data enable us to answer, including whether skilled migration is good or bad for origin countries. The first step is therefore to improve the data. Temporary movement of persons (including Mode IV of the GATS)
Early research suggests large gains from liberalization of temporary immigration policies. We examine various temporary migration policies with particular attention to measures that prevent overstaying and increase incentives for return migration, thus making temporary migration more attractive to destination countries. The link between trade, FDI and migration
Here again, empirical work is hampered by the lack of data. Therefore, a dataset combining trade, mode IV flows, and FDI in the service sectors will be created. A first project will explore migration incentives in the context of regional trade/FDI agreements, especially between rich and poor countries, dealing with agglomeration and the international location of economic activity. Social protection issues
In the next Global Economic Prospects on remittances and migration, there will be long-term scenarios (using the Bank global general-equilibrium model) that will highlight key forces driving migration, with a focus on how these forces are likely to change over the next fifteen years. Social capital
International migration affects social capital in both the countries of emigration and immigration by generating a number of externalities. The externalities associated with migration's impact on social capital are formally examined. Governance
We will focus on the portability of social security benefits – in particular pensions and health benefits – for temporary migrant workers. The aim is to identify best practices and obstacles for migrant workers to transfer acquired social security rights to their country of origin upon return. Portability will increase the benefits and therefore the incentives for return migration. |
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