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The Impact of Migration on Development in Developing Countries: A Review of the Empirical Literature

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Part of the United Nations University Series on Regionalism book series (UNSR, volume 20)

Abstract

The potential gains from migration have attracted interest from both policy makers and academics in recent decades. Migration can affect development not only through the direct effect of people leaving their country, but also through remittances (economic and social), return migration and diaspora engagement. The growing interest in the development impacts of migration has generated a large empirical literature. However, there is a lack of comprehensive literature reviews that provide an overview of the scope and evidence on the matter. The aim of this chapter is to bring together the empirical evidence on migration and development drawing on findings from quantitative studies from multiple research disciplines using a broad definition of both development and migration. By looking at different development aspects and outcomes, the chapter provides a general overview of the various effects of migration on development in developing countries that have been identified so far, what is still inconclusive, and where there are research gaps.

Keywords

Migration Development Developing countries 
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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Maastricht Graduate School of GovernanceUNU-MERITMaastrichtThe Netherlands

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