Introduction: Conceptualizing a Pluralist Framework for Labour Migration

Abstract

Economic globalization has not so much diminished the autonomy of the state, including over immigration, as enhanced its competence and legal tools. It was recognized at the outset that despite well-documented welfare gains, states show an aversion to open-door migration policies, insisting on their national prerogatives to control and restrict migration flows. This contemporary trend recalls the contradictory process identified by Sassen: the construction of border-free economic areas versus the increasing border controls against irregular migrants (free circulation of capital versus free movement of persons) (Sassen, 1996). Migration is being ‘lamented as the “missing global flow”’ (Ranis, 2007, p. 285), even though welfare gains from migration have been estimated to outnumber those from trade liberalization in goods and services. Compared to ‘the other dimensions of globalization’ (World Bank, 2006, p. 31), in particular, trade in goods and services, the system does not seem ready to put the liberalization of the cross-border movement of persons on to the global agenda but is more oriented towards a ‘nearly complete globalization of everything but labour’ (Freeman, 2006, p. 145; Pritchett, 2006, p. 12; Nonnenmacher, 2012).

Increasing international labour mobility should be one of our top priorities. This involves primarily, removing unnecessary barriers and facilitating movement.

Cecilia Malmstrom¹