Who benefits from return migration to developing countries?

2014/01/01 by Jackline Wahba · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Migration and Labor Dynamics #Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy #Labor market dynamics and wage inequality #Investment (military) #Human capital #Business #Emigration #Developing country #Return on investment #Labour economics #Rate of return #Economics #Economic growth #Finance #Production (economics) #Political science

paper · doi:10.15185/izawol.123

openalex publication_date 2014/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27

Abstract

Return migration can have multiple benefits. It allows migrants who have accumulated savings abroad to ease credit constraints at home and set up a business. Also, emigrants from developing countries who have invested in their human capital may earn higher wages when they return. However, whether the home country benefits from return migrants depends on the migrant’s success in accumulating savings and human capital and on the home country’s ability to make use of returnees' skills and investment. To benefit from returnees, home countries need policies that encourage returnees' investment and labor market reintegration.

Citations

• Do Migrants Improve Governance at Home? Evidence from a Voting Experiment
• Democracy and Foreign Education

Cited by

• Human capital flight [wikipedia]

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