Introduction

Abstract

This book is about the movement of people who are seeking a better life for themselves or their families, who leave their homes for destinations, usually cities that they believe will offer benefits beyond what they can find at home. Although it is principally an academic book that reports the work of scholars, it also tells some of the stories of the people who move; not everything in this book takes the form of statistics, patterns, and trends. The focus of this collection of essays is Asia, whether the migration of people within the region, from the region, or to the region. Migration involving Asia is the most dynamic in the world today but, despite its inherent fascination, remains understudied. We hope to contribute a corrective to this situation by offering this compendium of essays on Asian migration.