Georgia ON THE MOVE

1. GeorgiaON THE MOVE CRRC & ISET GDN/ippr workshop Kuwait, February 1, 2009

2. Plan • Team composition • Sampling and data collection summary • Existing literature • Workshop and stakeholder interviews • Questions: Who migrates – where, why, for how long? Who comes back? Effects on households, migrants, political views? CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

3. Team Composition • CRRC – survey and data collection • Regular staff • Robia Charles, CRRC’s political science intern (Berkley) • ISET – data analysis • Faculty, both permanent and visiting • Research Associates • M.A. students and former graduates • Advisors • Ted Gerber (Wisconsin) • Randy Filer (Hunter college, CUNY) • Themes: Remittances, education and health, gender. • BONUS: politics CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

4. Data Collection Sampling Frame (PSUs) based on geographic boundaries of the 2008 parliamentary election precincts. War delayed fieldwork and caused timing issues. Neighbors sometimes reported incorrect information. Households sampled: NM 620; AM 660; RM 660. Crude response rate of 73%. Database: RM 347; AM 493; NM 645 CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

5. Excluded Precincts CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

6. Screening Results CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

7. Limited Research Out There Ali Mansoor and Bryce Quillin, (eds.). Migration and Remittances: Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. (Washington DC: World Bank Publications, 2007 Mikadze, Tamar. “Crisis in Higher Education and Educational Migration from Georgia.” Central Asia and the Caucasus. Journal of Social and Political Studies, 2002. Rowland, R. “National and Regional Population Trends in Georgia, 1989-2002: Results from the 2002 Census.” Eurasian Geography and Economics, 47, No. 2, 2006. Tsartidze, M. “Specific Features and Trends in the Development and Functioning of the Georgian Labour Market.” Problems of Economic Transition, Vol. 46, No 7, 2003. Badurashvili I., Kapanadze E. and Cheishvili R. “Some Issues of Recent Migration Processes in Georgia.” Central Asia and the Caucasus, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2001. EBRD Remittances Study CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

8. Workshop and Stakeholders • In addition to our workshop, another one was held by Danish Refugee Council (DRC). • Most international organizations focus on regulatory framework and not so much on development issues (with an exception of DRC). ENP framework affects migration related policymaking. • About 20 Stakeholders: government officials (including the State Minister on Diaspora Issues), private sector, Diaspora leaders, NGOs, ILO, academicians, journalists. • During the survey, we tried to interview local priests, but they were reluctant to answer. CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

9. Stakeholders • Brain gain if short-term, brain drain of long-term. “New mentality.” • But! Migrants may get involved in criminal activities abroad. • Remittances: good but moral hazard. • Investment (?), financial stability. • Family situation (parentless children), demographics, birth rates decline. • Government officials believe that trends have reversed. • Protect property rights! CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

10. Who Migrates? Who Comes Back? • For absent migrants (AM) and returned migrants (RM) we look at: • Gender composition; Marital status and family composition; Health; Education; activity before departure; main households tasks. • Where to? • Destination of migration; gender composition by destination; education level by destination • For how long and why come back? CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

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20. Why go, not go, stay, come back? • Why go? • RM: most common reason to leave was “to earn, save and send money” (100%) followed by “to study” (19%) • AM: most common reason to leave was “learn useful skills” (50%), “get a steady job” (45%), “earn more money” (35%). • Why come back? • Most common reasons: family and done with whatever wanted to do. • Among least common reasons: Attractive government schemes (0%). • Why not come back? • Lack of job opportunities (56%); Don’t want to return (19%); Lack of money (13%); CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

21. Effects of Migration • Remittances: • Who sends remittances • How much and how often • How are remittances spent • Structure of the recipient household • Migrant • Income/wealth change • Gain in education and qualifications • Change in main activity • RM versus AM: main household tasks • BONUS: Political Views CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

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30. Has it made you richer? • RM: slightly (38%); the same (23%); much wealthier (19%) • AM: slightly (38%); much wealthier (36%); the same (10%) • Perception? • Successes and failures? CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

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34. BONUS: Politics • Politics plays minor role • Most common reasons to leave for RM: 3rd in ranks with 11% • Most common reasons to leave for AM: not mentioned • Least common reason to migrate for AM: 1st in ranks with 0.15% • Most coming reasons for NOT returning for AM: 8th in ranks with 5% CRRC & ISET: Georgia ON THE MOVE

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