International migration, remittances and development: myths and facts

TLDR

The debate on South‑North labour migration focuses on the receiving end, obscuring the developmental causes and consequences at the sending end. This study examines the reciprocal migration‑development relationship through seven myths and argues that policies promoting circular migration and freer circulation can unlock migrants’ developmental potential. The authors propose that facilitating remittance transfers and investments, with a focus on encouraging circular migration, is key to enhancing this potential. Migration cannot be halted; remittances significantly aid development, yet the current enthusiasm is overstated because restrictive policies and poor investment climates curb its full potential, and freer circulation could better harness migrants’ contributions.

Abstract

Abstract The debate on international South – North labour migration tends to focus on the receiving end of migration. This bias obscures a proper understanding of the developmental causes and consequences of migration at the sending end. The reciprocal migration – development relationship is examined through the discussion of seven migration ‘myths’. Because of its profound developmental roots, it is useless to think that migration can be halted or that aid and trade are short-cut ‘solutions’ to immigration. Migrant remittances contribute significantly to development and living conditions in sending countries. Nevertheless, the recent ‘remittance euphoria’ is not justified, because unattractive investment environments and restrictive immigration policies which interrupt circular migration patterns prevent the high development potential of migration from being fully realised. Although specific policies can enhance this potential through facilitating remittance transfers and investments, the key lies in encouraging circular migration. Instead of uselessly and harmfully trying to stop inevitable migration, immigration policies allowing for freer circulation can, besides increasing migration control, enhance the vital contribution of migrants to the development of their home countries.