This edited contribution explores strategies and measures for leveraging the potential of skilled diasporas and for advancing knowledge-based evidence on return skilled migration and its impact on development. By taking the example of Indian skilled migration, this study identifies ways of involving returned skilled migrants in home country development as well as proposes approaches to engage the diaspora in development. As high-skill immigration from India to mainland Europe is a rather recent phenomenon, the activities of Indian professionals in Europe are under-researched. The findings have wider application in contributing to the policy dialogue on migration and development, specifically to the advantage for developing and emerging economies. The book employs an interdisciplinary, two-fold approach: The first part of the research looks at how international exposure affects the current situation of skilled returnees in India. The second, European, part of the research examines migration policies, labour market regulations and other institutional settings that enable or hinder skilled Indians’ links with the country of origin. Structural differences between the host countries may facilitate different levels of learning opportunities; thus, this book identifies good practices to promote the involvement of Indian skilled diaspora in socio-economic development. In applying the framework of diaspora contributions as well as the return channel to study the impact on India, the book draws on qualitative and quantitative research methods consisting of policy analysis, in-depth interviews with key experts and skilled migrants and on data sets collected specifically for this study.

This book provides new insights and research studies on how developing countries come to terms with the nationalisation policies of Gulf economies that provide employment for their nationals. Focusing on regions and countries that have traditionally been overlooked, it includes studies on labour migration from Egypt to the Middle East and from the Philippines to Lebanon, migrant experiences and policy prospects in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, and Indian migration to the Gulf. The book fills a critical gap in migration research by studying migration from various Indian states, such as Tamil Nadu, Telugu-speaking states (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh), Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It also explores the unexpected phenomenon of demographic windows of economic opportunity (not documented in demographic literature) observed in a few Arab countries due to older migrant expatriates returning to their home country; the impact of international out-migration on intergenerational educational mobility among children in migrant-sending households in Kerala; and forced migration of Kerala Muslims to the Gulf.

Reviews the experience of five major emigration countries: India, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines and Turkey over the last half century, in order to analyse the determinants and characteristics of migration and its significance for economy, society, politics and international relations.

This volume is a multidisciplinary approach to the subject of Indian international emigration and comprises contributions by demographers, economists, sociologists, geographers, anthropologists and historians. The book highlights emerging issues such as the political economy of international migration, skilled and unskilled migration, body shopping, return migration, immigration policies in the Gulf and experiences of emigrants from the states of Kerala and Punjab. It focuses on the current dimensions like skilled migrants in the IT sector of Malaysia, the entrepreneurial ventures of Keralites in the UAE, household remittances, inequality and poverty in Kerala, the gender dimension of Indian migration (with focus on nurses and housemaids in the Gulf) and cross-border migratory movements connected to the European Union, with an overview of the migration of Sikhs and Tamils to France. Finally, it carries a discussion of the evolution of India’s public policies towards its diaspora.

This book describes the movement of un-skilled and skilled workers both within and from India and its fallout on education and development. It furthers the evidence on the contribution of education and international migration in development with specific reference to India as a major source country of migrant population. The book also distinguishes the underlying linkages and distinction between international and internal migration on the one hand and the education and development experience on the other. It brings forth the causes and development experiences of both migrations to a common platform to gauge on their similarities and differences in the lens of education and development. As such, this book contributes to the scant literature on Indian experience of internal and international migration and sheds light on future migration policy and course correction necessary for places and countries of migrant origin.

Over the last two decades, globalisation has accelerated international migration flows, particularly of skilled labour. Yet increasing migration by skilled workers from developing countries («brain drain») has raised serious concerns internationally about the adverse development impact on their countries of origin. This book, however, highlights the positive aspects of skilled labour migration as scientific diasporas are playing a growing role in the transfer of technology, skills and knowledge («brain gain») to their home countries. This is a very significant development in a globalised world where science, technology and knowledge can trigger economic and social transformations. The book presents solid empirical evidence of the contributions scientific diasporas make to their countries of origin, based on primary surveys of skilled migrants from Colombia, India and South Africa employed in Switzerland, a major destination country. The findings lead to a better understanding of the motives for migration, the profile of the scientific diaspora communities in Switzerland, and the varied ways in which they help their home countries. The book makes a significant contribution to the international policy debate and dialogue on migration and development. In particular, it shows how to leverage the potential of scientific diasporas as agents of home country development, by identifying good practices and offering specific recommendations for the countries of origin and of destination.