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Refugee Economies: Forced Displacement and Development

Author

Listed:
  • Betts, Alexander

    (Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs and Director of the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford)

  • Bloom, Louise

    (Research Officer, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford)

  • Kaplan, Josiah

    (Research Associate, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford)

  • Omata, Naohiko

    (Senior Research Officer, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford)

Abstract

Refugees have rarely been studied by economists. Despite some pioneering research on the economic lives of refugees, there remains a lack of theory and empirical data through which to understand, and build upon, refugees' own engagement with markets. Yet, understanding these economic systems may hold the key to rethinking our entire approach to refugee assistance. If we can improve our knowledge of the resource allocation systems that shape refugees' lives and opportunities, then we may be able to understand the mechanisms through which these market-based systems can be made to work better and turn humanitarian challenges into sustainable opportunities. This book adopts an inter-disciplinary approach, based on original qualitative and quantitative data on the economic life of refugees, in order to begin to build theory on the economic lives of refugees. It focuses on the case of Uganda because it represents a relatively positive case. Unlike other governments in the region, it has taken the positive step to allow refugees the right to work and a significant degree of freedom of movement through it so-called 'Self-Reliance Strategy'. This allows a unique opportunity to explore what is possible when refugees have basic economic freedoms. The book shows that refugees have complex and varied economic lives, often being highly entrepreneurial and connected to the global economy. The implications are simple but profound: far from being an inevitable burden, refugees have the capacity to help themselves and contribute to their host societies - if we let them

Suggested Citation

  • Betts, Alexander & Bloom, Louise & Kaplan, Josiah & Omata, Naohiko, 2016. "Refugee Economies: Forced Displacement and Development," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198795681.
  • Handle: RePEc:oxp:obooks:9780198795681
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Omata, Naohiko, 2023. "The role of developmental ‘buzzwords’ in the international refugee regime: Self-reliance, resilience, and economic inclusion," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Stillman, Sarah & Rozo, Sandra V & Tamim, Abdulrazzak & Palmer, I Bailey & Smith, Emma & Miguel, Edward, 2022. "The Syrian refugee life study: first glance," Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt6hr6f3wx, Department of Economics, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley.
    3. Hackl, Andreas, 2018. "Mobility equity in a globalized world: Reducing inequalities in the sustainable development agenda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 150-162.
    4. Pandey, Shelly & Ilavarasan, P. Vigneswara, 2019. "People, information and culture: Locating forms of capital by Afghan Sikh refugees in India through ICTs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 331-338.
    5. Duygu Ozaltin & Farah Shakir & Neophytos Loizides, 2020. "Why Do People Flee? Revisiting Forced Migration in Post-Saddam Baghdad," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 587-610, June.

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