PHM-Exch> 2009 Human Development Report: Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org


 *Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development

* *UNDP 2009Human - Development Report - HDRO 5 October 2009

*

Available online at: http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2009/

*Language editions:
English<http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2009/chapters/>|
French <http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2009/chapters/francais/> |
Spanish <http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2009/chapters/espanol/> |
Arabic <http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2009/chapters/arabic/> |
Chinese <http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2009/chapters/chinese/> |
Russian <http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2009/chapters/russian/> |
Portuguese<http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2009/chapters/portuguese/>

*

*In 182 countries, uneven progress and inequality in health, wealth and
education persist
Disparities in life expectancy can range up to 30 years, says the 2009 Human
Development Report

*

“……—Despite progress in many areas over the last 25 years, the disparities
in people’s well-being in rich and poor countries continue to be
unacceptably wide, according to the Human Development Index (HDI) released
today as part of the 2009 Human Development Report (HDR). This year’s HDI, a
summary indicator of people’s well-being—combining measures of life
expectancy, literacy, school enrolment and GDP per capita—was calculated for
182 countries and territories, the most extensive coverage ever. …”

Complete report
<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf>[3,884 KB]
Summary <http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Summary.pdf> [739 KB]

**

*…..Bangkok, 5 October 2009*—Allowing for migration—both within and between
countries—has the potential to increase people’s freedom and improve the
lives of millions around the world…”

“………We live in a highly mobile world, where migration is not only inevitable
but also an important dimension of human development. Nearly one billion—or
one out of seven—people are migrants. The Report, Overcoming barriers: Human
mobility and development, demonstrates that migration can enhance human
development for the people who move, for destination communities and for
those who remain at home.

Indeed, migration can raise a person’s income, health and education
prospects. Most importantly, being able to decide where to live is a key
element of human freedom, according to the Report, which also argues that
large gains in human development can be achieved by lowering barriers and
other constraints to movement and by improving policies towards those who
move.

However, migration does not always bring benefits. The extent to which
people are able to gain from moving depends greatly on the conditions under
which they move. Financial outlays can be relatively high, and movement
inevitably involves uncertainty and separation from families. The poor are
often constrained by a lack of resources, information and barriers in their
new host communities and countries. For too many people movement reflects
the repercussions of conflict, natural disaster or severe economic hardship.
Some women end up in trafficking networks, lose significant freedoms and
suffer physical danger.

*Challenging common misconceptions*

The findings in this Report cast new light on some common misconceptions.
Most migrants do not cross national borders, but instead move within their
own country: 740 million people are internal migrants, almost four times the
number of international migrants. Among international migrants, less than 30
percent move from developing to developed countries. For example, only three
percent of Africans live outside their country of birth.

Contrary to commonly held beliefs, migrants typically boost economic output
and give more than they take. Detailed investigations show that immigration
generally increases employment in host communities, does not crowd out
locals from the job market and improves rates of investment in new
businesses and initiatives. Overall, the impact of migrants on public
finances—both national and local—is relatively small, while there is ample
evidence of gains in other areas such as social diversity and the capacity
for innovation.

The authors demonstrate that the gains to people who move can be enormous.
Research found that migrants from the poorest countries, on average,
experienced a 15-fold increase in income, a doubling of school enrolment
rates and a 16-fold reduction in child mortality after moving to a developed
country.

*Links to development*

For the countries where migrants are coming from, the Report warns that
migration is no substitute for development. However, mobility often brings
new ideas, knowledge and resources—to migrants and to origin countries—that
can complement and even enhance human and economic development. In many
countries, the money sent back by migrants exceeds official aid.

Migrants’ gains are often shared with their families and communities at
home. In many cases this is in the form of cash—remittances—but the families
of migrants may benefit in other ways too. These ‘social remittances,’ as
they are called, include reductions in fertility, higher school enrolment
rates and the empowerment of women.

The Report also argues that the exodus of highly skilled workers such as
doctors, nurses and teachers—a major concern of a number of developing
countries that are losing these professionals—is more a symptom rather than
a cause of failing public systems.

When integrated into wider national development strategies, migration
complements broader local and national efforts to reduce poverty and enhance
social and economic development.

*Taking down barriers*

Overcoming barriers lays out a core package of reforms, six ‘pillars’ that
call for:

·         Opening existing entry channels for more workers, especially those
with low skills;

·         Ensuring basic human rights for migrants, from basic services,
like education and health care, to the right to vote;

·         Lowering the transaction costs of migration;

·         Finding collaborative solutions that benefit both destination
communities and migrants;

·         Easing internal migration; and

·         Adding migration as a component for origin countries’ development
strategies.

In terms of international migration, the Report does not advocate wholesale
liberalization, since people at destination places have a right to shape
their societies; but it argues that there is a strong case for increased
access for sectors with a high demand for labour, including for the
low-skilled. This is particularly important for developed countries because
their populations are ageing—and this may increase the demand for migrant
workers.

Easing access and reducing the cost of official documents are other
important steps towards lowering the barriers to legal migration.
Rationalizing such “paper walls” will help stem the flow of irregular
migrants, the Report argues, as people find it easier and less expensive to
use legal channels.

Overcoming barriers also calls on receiving countries to take steps to end
discrimination against migrants. The Report stresses the importance of
addressing the concerns of local residents and increasing awareness of
migrants’ rights, in addition to working with employers, trade unions and
community groups to combat xenophobia.

Despite the cases of intolerance, research commissioned by UNDP for the
Report demonstrates that people in destination countries are generally
supportive of further migration when jobs are available, and appreciate the
gains—economic, social and cultural—that increased diversity can bring.

*Time for action *

The world recession has quickly become a jobs crisis, and a jobs crisis is
generally bad news for migrants. In a number of areas, the number of new
migrants is down, while some destination countries are taking steps to
encourage or compel migrants to leave. But now is the time for action, the
Report argues.

“The recession should be seized as an opportunity to institute a new deal
for migrants—one that that will benefit workers at home and abroad while
guarding against a protectionist backlash,” says Klugman. “With recovery,
many of the same underlying trends that have been driving movement during
the past half-century will resurface, attracting more people to move.”

People are going to move, and thus Overcoming barriers provides the tools to
better manage inevitable human mobility, laying out principles and
guidelines for traditional immigration destinations, such as the United
States and Europe, and new migration magnets, such as Costa Rica, Morocco
and Thailand. The package of reforms put forward in Overcoming barriers
depends on a realistic appraisal of economic and social conditions and
recognition of public opinion and other political constraints, the Report
observes. But, with political courage, they are all feasible…………..”


*CONTENT: Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development*

·         Cover <http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_cover.pdf> [277 KB]

·         Foreword, Acknowledgments and
Contents<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Contents.pdf>[182
KB]

·         Overview - Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and
development<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Overview.pdf>[119
KB]

·         Chapter 1 - Freedom and movement: how mobility can foster human
development <http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Chapter1.pdf> [393 KB]


·         Chapter 2 - People in motion: who moves where, when and
why<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Chapter2.pdf>[867 KB]

·         Chapter 3 - How movers
fare<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Chapter3.pdf>[701 KB]

·         Chapter 4 - Impacts at origin and
destination<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Chapter4.pdf>[846
KB]

·         Chapter 5 - Policies to enhance human development
outcomes<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Chapter5.pdf>[366
KB]

·         Notes, Bibliographical notes,
Bibliography<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_NotesBiblio.pdf>[330
KB]

·         Human Development
Indicators<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Indicators.pdf>[922
KB]

·         Readers'
guide<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Readers.pdf>[390 KB]

·         Complete
report<http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf>[3,884
KB]

·         Errata <http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_Errata.pdf> [70 KB]
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