The Economic Effects of Refugee Return and Policy Implications

Dadush, Uri

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: FORCED DISPLACEMENT;    REFUGEES;    IDPs;    RETURNEES;    HOST COMMUNITIES;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-8497
RP-ID  :  WPS8497

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The recent surge in the number offorcibly displaced who cross international borders in searchof protection has prompted interest in evaluating policiesthat achieve the possible "end points" of thephenomenon. As envisaged by United Nations High Commissionerfor Refugees (UNHCR), these are the integration in thecountry of destination, relocation in a third country, andreturn to the country of origin. The focus of this paper ison the third aspect, namely the appropriate conduct ofreturn policy viewed from the perspective of the hostcountry. More specifically, the main question is whether itis in the economic self-interest of host countries to returnforcibly displaced persons. In addressing the question, fourancillary issues are to be addressed: (i) the macroeconomicimpact of refugees and of their return; (ii) the labormarket impact of refugees and of their return, (iii) thefiscal impact of refugees and of their return; and (iv) howreturn policy should be formulated and executed. Theavailable evidence and analyses allow this paper's mainconclusion, namely that the costs of hosting asylum seekersand refugees are front-loaded, while the benefits accruingfrom their integration into the labor market and the hosteconomy typically take years to materialize. It follows thatfrom the economic perspective their return after a shortstay may represent a costlier option than continuing toinvest in their successful integration. Countries with aflexible labor market, strong investment climate, and awelcoming attitude to immigrants tend to see the economicbenefits of refugee inflows materialize faster.