The effect of emigration on home-country political institutions

Abstract

International migration to democratic countries can improve political institutions at home. Positive effects can occur through several channels, e.g. transfer of new ideas and political norms, return or circular emigration, and remittances. In general, macro studies find positive global effects if migrants' destination countries are democratic. Micro studies generally focus on a single country, and find positive effects of some specific channels, such as transfer of norms and return migration.