Comments on “Mainstreaming Migration, Development and Remittances in the LDC Post-Brussels Plan of Action”

1. Comments on“Mainstreaming Migration,Development and Remittancesin the LDC Post-Brussels Plan of Action” Michael Clemens UNITAR  June 17, 2010

2. A migrant-centered approach • Enhance data collection • Maximize benefits of mobility • Facilitate remittances • Leverage diasporas’ contributions • Institutional reforms

3. 2. Maximize benefits of mobility

4. Living standard In Haiti Same person in US

6. 100 Haitians who aren’t poor Poverty line $10/day

7. 100 Haitians who aren’t poor

8. 100 Indians who aren’t poor

9. Poverty headcount reduction Kagera, 1991-2004

10. Poverty headcount reduction Kagera, 1991-2004

11. Gallup World Poll 2009: Ideally, if you had the opportunity, would you like to move permanently to another country, or would you prefer to continue living in this country?

12. What causes loss of professionals? • “Graduates are not in Malawi because they are emigrating.” • “Prices are high because merchants are raising them.”

15. USA

16. USA Brazil

17. USA Philippines Brazil

18. Kenya USA Philippines Brazil

19. 3. Facilitate remittances

20. IOM Bangladesh Household Remittance Survey 2009 • Cost: $3,150 • Annual earnings: $3,690 (117%) • Remitted: $2,287(73%)

21. 4. Leverage diasporas’ contributions

22. 5. Institutional reforms

23. 10,000 university students in 6 African countries • Professional advancement • Remuneration • Personal safety • The future of my children • Quality upkeep of public amenities • A level of fair taxation • 429 top high school graduates from Tonga and PNG • Health care • Children’s education • Salary • Safety and security • Quality of colleagues

24. mclemens@cgdev.org

25. 100 Mexicans who aren’t poor

26. Language • “Family abandonment rate” • “Great farm drain” • “Patriotic commerce rate” • “Female labor force participation” • “Industrial revolution” • “Tariff rate” • “Brain drain” • “Skill flow”

27. Map the following into the report’s areas of action: Magnitude of gains – how to leverage Remittances Great that there’s no so much emphasis Terrible economics, cost reduction etc. Remittances return on investment, insurance Best way to increase remittances: more movement Skilled workers Has great portions, but at the end of the day gets causation wrong Providing information to migrants How about getting information from migrants, about the fundamental causes of their departure? Too sanguine on political effects? GMU study What does migrant-centered approach really mean? Hosts letting more people move. What gov’t policy clearly lets people reach aspirations? Opening is the clearest. Poll data. If you want better opportunities for the poor, facilitate more movement.

34. South Africa 1994 40,000 30,000 Income per capita, US$/year 20,000 10,000 0

35. South Africa, Comprehensive Welfare Index Blacks 1993 Blacks 2005 Bhorat, Westhuizen, and Goga (2007), University of Cape Town

36. South Africa, Comprehensive Welfare Index Whites 1993 Whites2005 Bhorat, Westhuizen, and Goga (2007), University of Cape Town

37. South Africa 1994 World 2009 40,000 30,000 Income per capita, US$/year 20,000 10,000 0

38. Insurance claim • Remittances help replace lost HH income When HH income falls… Remittances rise… 0.6% 1% Filipinos overseas