MIGRATION THE COSTS & BENEFITS OF MIGRATION AS A STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPMENT
Phase 1 – between 1791 and 1838 was dominated by political exiles.
Phase 2 – between 1838 and 1885 involved inter-territorial movements of people caused by the abolition of slavery.
Phase 3 – between 1885 and 1920 was a period of inter-Caribbean migration
Phase 4 - between 1920 and 1940 was a temporary lull in Caribbean migration.
Phase 5 – between 1940 and 1969 involved primary movement to North America & Europe.
Phase 6 – present stage continues earlier trend toward extra-regional, inter-Caribbean and return migration.
Age - 20-39 years (since 1980s)
Gender – mostly female (since 1970s)
Class – from all classes, particularly middle & upper
Skills – skilled professionals/occupations
Brain Gain and Skills transfer
Remittances – increased foreign exchange
Increased Employment Opportunities
Increased Investment Opportunities
Diasporic lobby
Increased Tourist arrivals (esp. from Diaspora)
Increased exports to Diasporic Community
Controls overpopulation
Transnational Networks created
Regional & Hemispheric Integration
Brain drain
Loss of benefits from Taxes and Diminishing returns on Educational investment
Culture of Emigration
Decreased productivity - unearned income & disincentive
Deportees & Increase in Crime
Family breakup & Gender imbalance
Mobile population resulting in increased instances of HIV & AIDS
New mode of dependency on diasporic profits & vulnerability to external shocks.
Migration has raised the standards of living for Caribbean people – resulting in socioeconomic development.
Facilitating the involvement of the Diaspora and its resources in politics, culture, investment, exports, tourism and social life can result in economic, social & cultural development.
Directing remittances through banking systems to expand savings, reduce consumption, and contribute to a pool of resources which can be invested and in turn contributing to economic development.