IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/devpol/v42y2024i3ne12761.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can European foreign aid motivate people to stay in Africa? The root causes policy debate and irregular migration

Author

Listed:
  • Lars Engberg‐Pedersen
  • Ida Marie Savio Vammen
  • Hans Lucht

Abstract

Motivation In European policy debate, conflict, economic crisis, lack of development, population growth, and climate change are often seen as the root causes of migration from Africa. To deter irregular migration to Europe, aid has thus been directed towards these perceived causes. This seems, however, not to deter irregular migration. Purpose We explore the discrepancy between the official discourse of root causes and insights from research on migration decisions; and how discourse and evidence relate to aid. We ask what kind of policy change is needed if aid is possibly used to influence irregular migration. We focus on the motivations and drivers of migration and how development co‐operation may influence these. Methods and approach Considering African migration to Europe, we examine the official European discourse on root causes of irregular migration, highlight recent developments in the academic understanding of migration aspirations and drivers, and investigate various attempts to analyse the impact of foreign aid on assumed “root causes” and migration. Findings Migration is influenced by drivers that differ according to the specific context in which potential migrants decide to migrate or not. Aid to influence migration must be thoroughly adapted to the circumstances of potential migrants. Addressing so‐called root causes may be irrelevant to many potential migrants and will require long‐term change to have any impact. It may even increase migration in the short term. Foreign aid that adopts a blueprint regardless of context is unlikely to deter irregular migration in the short or medium term. Policy implications If irregular African migration to Europe is to be deterred through development co‐operation, European policy‐makers and development practitioners need to elaborate and differentiate between aid‐supported activities through careful understanding of the migration dynamics specific to individual localities and societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Lars Engberg‐Pedersen & Ida Marie Savio Vammen & Hans Lucht, 2024. "Can European foreign aid motivate people to stay in Africa? The root causes policy debate and irregular migration," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 42(3), May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:42:y:2024:i:3:n:e12761
    DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12761
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12761
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/dpr.12761?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mauro Lanati & Rainer Thiele, 2021. "Aid for health, economic growth, and the emigration of medical workers," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(7), pages 1112-1140, October.
    2. Maruta, Admasu Asfaw & Banerjee, Rajabrata & Cavoli, Tony, 2020. "Foreign aid, institutional quality and economic growth: Evidence from the developing world," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 444-463.
    3. Berthélemy, Jean-Claude & Beuran, Monica & Maurel, Mathilde, 2009. "Aid and Migration: Substitutes or Complements?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 1589-1599, October.
    4. Sam Jones & John Page & Abebe Shimeles & Finn Tarp & John Page & Abebe Shimeles, 2015. "Aid, Employment and Poverty Reduction in Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 27(S1), pages 17-30, October.
    5. Rachel M. Gisselquist & Miguel Niño-Zarazúa & Melissa Samarin, 2021. "Does aid support democracy?: A systematic review of the literature," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-14, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Roy Huijsmans & Nicola Ansell & Peggy Froerer, 2021. "Introduction: Development, Young People, and the Social Production of Aspirations," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(1), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Lanati, Mauro & Thiele, Rainer, 2018. "The impact of foreign aid on migration revisited," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 59-74.
    8. Mauro Lanati & Rainer Thiele, 2020. "Foreign assistance and emigration: Accounting for the role of non‐transferred aid," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(7), pages 1951-1976, July.
    9. Dreher, Axel & Fuchs, Andreas & Langlotz, Sarah, 2019. "The effects of foreign aid on refugee flows," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 127-147.
    10. Graham Bird & Yongseok Choi, 2020. "The effects of remittances, foreign direct investment, and foreign aid on economic growth: An empirical analysis," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(1), pages 1-30, February.
    11. Mustapha Douch & Huw Edwards & Todd Landman & Sushanta Mallick, 2022. "Aid Effectiveness: Human Rights as a Conditionality Measure," Bank of Lithuania Working Paper Series 104, Bank of Lithuania.
    12. Gabriele Restelli, 2021. "The effects of development aid on irregular migration to Europe: Deterrence or attraction?," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 39(6), pages 926-952, November.
    13. Niels Keijzer & David Black, 2020. "Special issue introduction Ownership in a post‐aid effectiveness era: Comparative perspectives," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 38(S1), pages 1-12, May.
    14. Gamso, Jonas & Yuldashev, Farhod, 2018. "Does rural development aid reduce international migration?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 268-282.
    15. Doucouliagos, Hristos & Paldam, Martin, 2011. "The ineffectiveness of development aid on growth: An update," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 399-404, June.
    16. Michael A. Clemens & Timothy N. Ogden, 2020. "Migration and household finances: How a different framing can improve thinking about migration," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 38(1), pages 3-27, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mauro Lanati & Rainer Thiele, 2021. "Aid for health, economic growth, and the emigration of medical workers," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(7), pages 1112-1140, October.
    2. Dreher, Axel & Lang, Valentin & Reinsberg, Bernhard, 2024. "Aid effectiveness and donor motives," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    3. Jonas Gamso & Jikuo Lu & Farhod Yuldashev, 2021. "Does foreign aid volatility increase international migration?," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 581-598, July.
    4. Lanati, Mauro & Thiele, Rainer, 2020. "International Student Flows from Developing Countries: Do Donors Have an Impact?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Paul Clist & Gabriele Restelli, 2021. "Development aid and international migration to Italy: Does aid reduce irregular flows?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(5), pages 1281-1311, May.
    6. Mauro Lanati & Rainer Thiele, 2020. "Foreign assistance and emigration: Accounting for the role of non‐transferred aid," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(7), pages 1951-1976, July.
    7. Lanati, Mauro & Sanfilippo, Marco & Santi, Filippo, 2023. "Aid and internal migration in Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    8. Mauro Lanati & Rainer Thiele, 2024. "South‐south refugee movements: Do pull factors play a role?," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(2), pages 928-958, July.
    9. Fuchs, Andreas & Gröger, André & Heidland, Tobias & Wellner, Lukas, 2023. "The effect of foreign aid on migration: Global micro evidence from world bank projects," Kiel Working Papers 2257, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    10. Syed Ali Abbas & Eliyathamby A. Selvanathan & Saroja Selvanathan, 2023. "The foreign aid and remittance nexus: Evidence from South Asia," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(7), pages 2032-2053, July.
    11. Jordi Ripollés & Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso, 2021. "African Asylum Seekers in Europe: The Interplay between Foreign Aid and Governance in Origin Countries," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 32(5), pages 829-865, November.
    12. Gabriele Restelli, 2021. "The effects of development aid on irregular migration to Europe: Deterrence or attraction?," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 39(6), pages 926-952, November.
    13. Zhang, Liyunpeng & Li, Xiao & Zhuang, Yuhang & Li, Ningning, 2022. "World Bank aid and local multidimensional poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    14. Fuchs, Andreas & Gröger, André & Heidland, Tobias & Wellner, Lukas, 2023. "Reduziert Entwicklungshilfe Migration? [Does foreign aid reduce migration?]," Kiel Policy Brief 169, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    15. Jens Eger & Sebastian H. Schneider & Martin Bruder & Solveig H. Gleser, 2023. "Does Evidence Matter? The Impact of Evidence Regarding Aid Effectiveness on Attitudes Towards Aid," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(5), pages 1149-1172, October.
    16. Abbas, Syed Ali & Selvanathan, Eliyathamby A. & Selvanathan, Saroja & Bandaralage, Jayatilleke S., 2021. "Are remittances and foreign aid interlinked? Evidence from least developed and developing countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 265-275.
    17. Gabriele Restelli, 2023. "Development and International Migration: The Effect of Income on Regular and Irregular Migration Intentions to Europe," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 49(1), pages 135-174, March.
    18. Nimonka Bayale & Brigitte Kanga Kouassi, 2022. "The Devil is in the Details: On the Robust Determinants of Development Aid in G5 Sahel Countries," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 64(4), pages 646-680, December.
    19. Lanati, Mauro & Thiele, Rainer, 2018. "Foreign assistance and migration choices: Disentangling the channels," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 148-151.
    20. Dreher, Axel & Fuchs, Andreas & Langlotz, Sarah, 2019. "The effects of foreign aid on refugee flows," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 127-147.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:42:y:2024:i:3:n:e12761. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/odioruk.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.