Publication: South-South Migration and Remittances
Date
2007
ISSN
Published
2007
Author(s)
Abstract
South-South Migration and Remittances
reports on preliminary results from an ongoing effort to
improve data on bilateral migration stocks. It sets out some
working hypotheses on the determinants and socioeconomic
implications of South-South migration. Contrary to popular
perception that migration is mostly a South-North
phenomenon, South-South migration is large. Available data
from national censuses suggest that nearly half of the
migrants from developing countries reside in other
developing countries. Almost 80 percent of South-South
migration takes place between countries with contiguous
borders. Estimates of South-South remittances range from 9
to 30 percent of developing countries' remittance
receipts in 2005. Although the impact of South-South
migration on the income of migrants and natives is smaller
than for South-North migration, small increases in income
can have substantial welfare implications for the poor. The
costs of South-South remittances are even higher than those
of North-South remittances. These findings suggest that
policymakers should pay attention to the complex challenges
that developing countries face not only as countries of
origin, but also as countries of destination.
Citation
“Ratha, Dilip; Shaw, William. 2007. South-South Migration and Remittances. World Bank Working Paper No. 102. © Washington, DC: World Bank. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/6733 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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