Migration from Zambia : Ensuring Temporariness through Cooperation

Amin, Mohammad ; Mattoo, Aaditya

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: ABUSE;    AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK;    AGRICULTURAL WORKERS;    BORDERS;    BRAIN DRAIN;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-4145
RP-ID  :  WPS4145

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 paper analyzes migration from Zambiain order to understand how migration policy can supportdevelopment in the least developed countries. Overallemigration from Zambia is not high by regional standards,but the pattern of migration is skewed toward the skilledand away from the unskilled. A development-friendly approachto migration for Zambia would strive to ensure thetemporariness of both types of movement. First, industrialcountries may be willing to accept a higher level ofunskilled immigration if they could be certain that it istemporary. Second, any adverse effects of brain drain wouldbe greatly alleviated if skilled emigration is temporary.The problem is that host countries cannot unilaterallyensure temporariness of unskilled migration becauserepatriation cannot be accomplished without the help ofsource countries like Zambia, and source countries todayhave little incentive to facilitate the return of theunskilled. At the same time, source countries like Zambiacannot unilaterally ensure temporariness of the skilledbecause repatriation cannot be accomplished without the helpof the host countries, and host countries currently havelittle incentive to send back the skilled. So, there is astrong case and considerable scope for cooperation betweensource countries like Zambia and destination countries inthe design and implementation of migration policy so thatunskilled migration becomes feasible and skilled migrationtakes a more desirable form.