1. Human Development Report 2009
Overcoming b i
O i barriers:
Human mobility and development
y p
Isabel Medalho Pereira
HDRO‐UNDP
Upwardly Global Panel Discussion
Upwardly Global Panel Discussion
New York 20 April 2010

2. HDR09: Overcoming Barriers
• Focus on people and broader dimensions of well‐being – brings
important insights to the topic of migration.
covers movement across and behind borders, process and
outcomes
Broad reach: between October‐
end November 2009,
end November 2009
• over 3 million views, with
visitors from 223 countries
and territories;
• over 150,000 downloads of
HDR in full or part .
1

3. Key Messages
1. Migration can have human development gains for
migrants and their families, but also origin and
migrants and their families, but also origin and
destination communities.
2. But unequal opportunities and barriers reduce
2 But unequal opportunities and barriers reduce
potential gains and reveal a major policy agenda.
3. Core package of policy reforms and initiatives –
3 Core package of policy reforms and initiatives –
ambitious but politically feasible – can help expand
the potential gains for human development.
2

4. Key Messages
1. Migration can have human development gains for
migrants and their families, but also origin and
migrants and their families, but also origin and
destination communities.
2. But unequal opportunities and barriers reduce
2 But unequal opportunities and barriers reduce
potential gains and reveal a major policy agenda.
3. Core package of policy reforms and initiatives
3 Core package of policy reforms and initiatives –
ambitious but politically feasible – can help expand
the potential gains for human development.
2

5. Some Clarifications…
• Most movement in the world does not from
developing to developed countries, nor even
between countries… most movement within
borders of countries (internal migration)
♦ Of the nearly 1 billion movers in the world,
740 million are internal migrants.
♦ US i 2005
US in 2005:
~ 302.7 million people
~39 million international immigrants
~ 44 million internal migrants (lifetime, last census)
3

6. Some Clarifications…
• Most movement within borders of countries
(internal migration)
• Internationally, the share of world’s population
moving almost stable since 1960… but
g
direction of movements has changed
3

7. Some Clarifications…
• Most movement within borders of countries
(internal migration)
• Internationally, the share of world’s population
moving almost stable since 1960… but
g
direction of movements has changed
• International migration to US:
International migration to US:
Immigrant and non-immigrant visas
issued at Foreign Service Posts 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
immigrant categories (permanent
residents)
) 402,247 449,103 434,409 470,098 468,770
non-immigrant categories (temporary
residents, short term visits) 5,388,937 5,836,730 6,444,285 6,603,073 5,804,182
temporary workers with special
occupation (H1B) 124,099 135,421 154,053 129,464 110,367
intra-company transferees (L1) 65,458 72,613 84,532 84,078 64,696
exchange visitors (J1) 275,161 309,951 343,946 359,447 313,597
total 5,791,184 6,285,833 6,878,694 7,073,171 6,272,952
Source: US Dpt State 3

8. At destination,
positive aggregate effects
positive aggregate effects
• Most studies find positive aggregate gains for
Most studies find positive aggregate gains for
destination countries
♦ Commissioned analysis of flows from 50+ developing countries
Commissioned analysis of flows from 50 developing countries
into 14 OECD countries found that investment and output rises
proportionately.
♦ Innovation impacts: US, between 1950‐2000,
a 1.3% increase in share of migrant university graduates increase
15% nr patents issued per capita → talent competition.
15% nr patents issued per capita → talent competition.
4

9. At destination,
positive aggregate effects
positive aggregate effects
• Most studies find positive aggregate gains for
Most studies find positive aggregate gains for
destination countries
♦ Commissioned analysis of flows from 50+ developing countries
Commissioned analysis of flows from 50 developing countries
into 14 OECD countries found that investment and output rises
proportionately.
♦ Innovation impacts: US, between 1950‐2000,
a 1.3% increase in share of migrant university graduates increase
15% nr patents issued per capita → talent competition.
15% nr patents issued per capita → talent competition.
PhDs in Economics granted 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
by US universities
by US universities
Total (number) 903 932 960 1061 1029
Non‐US citizens (%) 56.2 62.4 61.5 67.6 65.6
4

10. At destination,
positive aggregate effects
positive aggregate effects
• Most studies find positive aggregate gains for
Most studies find positive aggregate gains for
destination countries
• Migrants’ complementary skills increase labour
force participation
4

11. Migration is a complement of
development… not a substitute !
development not a substitute !
Long term agenda ‐> core package of suggestions:
core package
♦ Liberalize and simplify regular channels, conditional on
labour market conditions
→ employment portability and circularity
♦ Ensure basic rights for migrants
→ equal remuneration and conditions for equal work
♦ Reduce transaction costs associated with migration
→ information, reduce cost and ease access of certificates,
prevent abuses and fraud
♦ I
Improve outcomes in destination communities
t i d ti ti iti
♦ Enable benefits from internal migration
♦ Make mobility an integral part of HD strategies 5

12. Thank
Th k you !
http://hdr.undp.org/en/
Isabel.pereira@undp.org