International migration and development in East Asia and the Pacific / Ahmad Ahsan, Manolo Abella, Andrew Beath, Yukon Huang, Manjula Luthria, and Trang Van Nguyen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ahsan, Ahmad, author.

Abella, Manolo I., author.

Beath, Andrew (Economist), author.

Huang, Yukon, author.

Luthria, Manjula, author.

Nguyen, Trang Van, author.

Contributor:

World Bank Group, issuing body.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Emigration and immigration.

Government policy.

Emigrant remittances.

Foreign workers.

Economic development.

East Asia--Emigration and immigration--Economic aspects.

East Asia.

Pacific Area--Emigration and immigration--Economic aspects.

Pacific Area.

Economic development--East Asia.

Economic development--Pacific Area.

Foreign workers--East Asia.

Foreign workers--Pacific Area.

Foreign workers, East Asian.

Emigrant remittances--East Asia.

Emigrant remittances--Pacific Area.

East Asia--Emigration and immigration--Government policy.

Pacific Area--Emigration and immigration--Government policy.

Emigration and immigration--Economic aspects.

Physical Description:

xxii, 221 pages : color illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : World Bank Group, [2014]

Summary:

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region has an international emigrant population of more than 21 million people who remitted US$112 billion to their home countries in 2013. The region also hosts more than 7 million migrant workers, mostly from other Asian countries. These migrant workers account for a significant part of the labor force in economies such as Malaysia and Singapore and thus play a significant role in the economies of the labor-receiving countries. An aging population in many East Asian countries will create significant labor shortages, leading to greater demand for migrant workers. For these reasons, international labor mobility is emerging as an important development issue in East Asia, with important implications for reducing poverty and supporting sustainable economic development in the region. In this context, International Migration and Development in East Asia and the Pacific analyzes the impact of migration on development of the EAP region and examines how international migration should be managed in East Asia in a way that supports development goals while simultaneously protecting the rights of migrants. The study covers trends in international migration in East Asia and overarching regional issues such as the links between macroeconomic management and remittances and the role of demographic trends in migration; the economic impact of migration and remittances on labor-sending countries and labor-receiving countries; the migration industry; and the policies and institutions that govern migration. This report shows that in labor-sending countries remittances help reduce poverty significantly by increasing income for migrants' families. At the country level, remittances have a significant role in helping finance trade deficits and in bolstering reserves, not only in the small Pacific Island economies but also in large economies such as Vietnam and the Philippines. For labor-receiving countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong SAR, China, migrant workers help relieve labor shortages, boost output, and maintain competitiveness. The role of migrant workers will become more important in the future given the rapid population aging in many labor-receiving East Asian countries. Given these factors, the key question concerning international migration in East Asia and the Pacific is not whether it is desirable but how it should be managed in the future. International Migration and Development in East Asia and the Pacific discusses a range of policy options in both labor-sending and labor-receiving countries to address this question. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 International Migration in the East Asia and Pacific Region: Stylized Facts and Context 9

Introduction 10

International Migration and Remittances in the East Asia and Pacific Region: Stylized Facts 12

Macroeconomic Importance of International Migration in Labor-Sending Countries 28

Demographic Transitions and International Migration 39

Conclusion 47

Notes 48

References 48

Chapter 2 Impacts of International Migration and Remittances on Labor-Sending Countries 53

Introduction 54

Characteristics of Migrants and Their Households 55

The Effect of International Migration on Development: A Study of Five Channels 59

Conclusion 81

Notes 83

References 85

Chapter 3 The Economic Impact of International Migration on Labor-Receiving Countries 91

Context 92

Skills of Migrant Workers and Effects on Skills of Native Workers 97

Impact on GDP, Investment, and Labor Productivity 100

Impact on Productivity and Competitiveness 109

Labor Markets: Impact on Wages and Unemployment 115

Technology Stalling or Skill Upgrading? The Impact of Migration 120

Conclusion 126

Notes 126

References 127

Chapter 4 Managing the Migration Industry: Policies and Institutions in Labor-Sending Countries 131

East Asian Migration Markets: Features and Policy Issues 132

The Migration Industry and Policies in East Asia and the Pacific 137

Policy Options and Good Practices to Address Market Failures and High Transaction Costs 152

Supporting the Recruitment Process 157

Protecting the Welfare of Workers Abroad 162

Enhancing the Benefits from Remittances 165

Conclusion: Strengthening the Policy Regime 175

Notes 176

References 177

Chapter 5 Managing the Migration Industry: Policies and Institutions in Labor-Receiving Countries 179

The Regional Context 180

Foreign-Worker Policies and Programs 181

Market Failures 196

Managing Irregular Migration 200

Enhancing Labor Mobility through Bilateral Labor Agreements 205

Conclusion 218

Notes 219

References 220.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9780821396490

0821396498

OCLC:

894623063