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Who benefits from return migration to developing countries?

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  • Jackline Wahba

    (University of Southampton, UK, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

Return migration can have multiple benefits. It allows migrants who have accumulated savings abroad to ease credit constraints at home and set up a business. Also, emigrants from low- and middle-income countries who have invested in their human capital may earn higher wages when they return. However, whether the home country benefits from return migrants depends on the migrant's success in accumulating savings and human capital and on the home country's ability to make use of returnees’ skills and investment. To benefit from returnees, home countries need policies that encourage returnees’ investment and labor market reintegration.

Suggested Citation

  • Jackline Wahba, 2021. "Who benefits from return migration to developing countries?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 123-123, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:2021:n:123
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Swain, Sukanta Chandra & Padhi, Sunil Kumar, 2020. "Economic Activities for Repatriated Migrant Workers of India: A Framework for Rural Development," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society (AESS), vol. 10(03), January.
    2. Hazans, Mihails, 2018. "What drives earnings of return migrants? Evidence from Latvia," MPRA Paper 118599, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Shrimoyee Ganguly, 2022. "Reverse migration and exports at extensive margin: case of a small dependent economy," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 321-348, December.
    4. Miao Chi & Michael Coon, 2020. "Variations in Naturalization Premiums by Country of Origin," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 46(1), pages 102-125, January.
    5. Philip L. Martin, 2016. "Migration, Trade and Remittances: Low- and High-Skilled Workers," Remittances Review, Remittances Review, vol. 1(1), pages 39-52, October.
    6. Fransen, Sonja & Ruiz, Isabel & Vargas-Silva, Carlos, 2017. "Return Migration and Economic Outcomes in the Conflict Context," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 196-210.
    7. World Bank, 2020. "Towards Safer and More Productive Migration for South Asia," World Bank Publications - Reports 33559, The World Bank Group.
    8. Sukanta Chandra Swain & Sunil Kumar Padhi, 2020. "Economic Activities for Repatriated Migrant Workers of India: A Framework for Rural Development," Asian Journal of Agriculture and rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(3), pages 749-755, October.
    9. S. Irudaya Rajan & S. Amuthan, 2022. "Labour Force, Occupational Changes and Socioeconomic Level of Return Emigrants in India," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 865-887, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    return migration; entrepreneurship; brain gain; developing countries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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