The dynamics of migration, health and livelihoods: INDEPTH Network perspectives

Without statistics, it is not only impossible to measure the magnitude of human trafficking, it is also difficult to foresee the appropriate policies, operational and legislative responses and efficient implementation of initiatives. Insufficient data and a lack of comparable analyses that are reliable and up-to-date hamper the efforts of almost every agency dealing with trafficking, its victims and perpetrators. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has created a publication that offers a comprehensive set of guidelines for the collection, exchange, analysis and protection of data on trafficking in human beings. It aims to standardize such data collection and promote its exchange between the European Union Member States.

This paper reviews common challenges faced by researchers interested  in measuring the impact of migration and remittances on income, poverty,  inequality, and human capital (or, in general, "welfare") as well as difficulties  confronting development practitioners in converting this research into policy  advice. On the analytical side, the paper discusses the proper formulation  of a research question, the choice of the analytical tools, as well as the interpretation of the results in the presence of pervasive endogeneity in all  decisions surrounding migration. Particular attention is given to the use of  instrumental variables in migration research.

The number of long-term international migrants (that is, those residing in foreign countries for more than one year) has grown steadily in the past four decades to an estimated 175 million in 2000.  About 154 million were voluntary migrants, with the remaining 16 million being refugees. Even with the numbers of international migrants large and growing, it is important to keep in mind that only about three percent of the world's population has been living outside of their home countries for a year or longer. The propensity to move internationally, particularly in the absence of compelling reasons such as wars, is limited to a small proportion of humans. International migration intersects with concerns about development, poverty alleviation and population control in a number of ways. Migration is a function of economic and demographic differences among countries, and, depending on the circumstances, migration can stimulate or retard progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals. Although these interconnections have received new attention in the past few years, there continue to be many research, policy and programmatic issues that require more sustained attention. Following a discussion of the nature of migration, future trends in movements, and the interconnections between migration and development, this paper examines the implications of migration for reproductive health and provides recommendations in four areas: institution strengthening; research priorities; education and training; and service needs of migrants, refugees and trafficking victims.

The reports cover a range of statistics and other data related to immigration, emigration, return migration, remittances, labour migration and irregular migration, including trafficking and smuggling. Besides explaining some of the key factors underlying current migration patterns, the country reports also provide an assessment of the institutional and policy framework governing migration (domestic legislation, institutional actors, bi- and multilateral cooperation, etc.) and its effectiveness.