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Migration, Reverse Migration Migration, Reverse Migration and Tech Transferand Tech Transfer

SOSC 228

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1. Uneven economic development lead to migration within East Asia, across regions, and within countries

2. Migration a transnational issue, as flows can have major impact on sending and receiving countries.

3. Asia initial loser in outmigration, particularly “brain drain,” with Western countries as major beneficiaries.

4. Governments can affect the flows of human population.

5. Human capital flows closely linked to technology transfer.

6. East Asia, including India, now benefiting from reverse migration and investment by migrants into their home country.

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1. Migration Patterns1. Migration Patterns

Result of uneven economic development as migrants seek

higher salaries, better living conditions, better education

opportunities.

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1. Migration Patterns 1. Migration Patterns (con’t)(con’t)

a. Inter-regional flows Most migration to Middle East—problems for

Philippina workers Political instability or uncertainty key force

“pushing” people out, as in case of Hong Kong pre-1997

Some South American migration to Japan Temporary contract labour migration—brings

remittances, which can be of great importance to developing economies (see table).

Reverse migration of talented and trained migrants from “host” country to “home country”—not on map

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1. Migration Patterns 1. Migration Patterns (con’t)(con’t)

b. Intra-regional Migration War refugees—Indochina crisis of 1975-79, can

create major unrest and border conflicts Short-term economic migrants seeking higher

salaries—outflows from Philippines, China, and Indonesia to Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Problem in developed economies of East Asia, particularly Japan, of aging population--leads to need for labour migration, but states can resist allowing long-term immigration.

East Asia crisis triggered massive movement of Indonesians out of Malaysia

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1. Migration Patterns 1. Migration Patterns (con’t)(con’t)

c. Internal Migration increased productivity in the countryside frees

up labour force looking for higher wages. urbanization due to migration creates

environmental problems in cities infrastructural projects necessitate population

resettlement—difficult problem to manage successfully. Example of Three Gorges Dam

Overpopulation, loss of arable land, desertification, led to massive population movements in search of places to make a living.

As many as 100 million farmers on the move in China in search of jobs

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2. Migration impact on Host and 2. Migration impact on Host and Home CountriesHome Countries

Enormous benefits to US, Canadian and Australian economy, in terms of monies spent, talent acquired

Canadian subsidies of Asians who then relocate to U.S.—Canada seen as route to U.S.

Resolves population pressures in “home” country, but can lead to loss of talent if migrants are university educated.

Some equilibrium point attained when “home” country economy reaches developmental stage to trigger “reverse” migration

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3. Government Policies and Impact3. Government Policies and Impact

Racist government anti-immigration policies Political instability, government caused famine

can trigger outflow—major flows out of North Korea

War as major impetus for migration Governments can restrict ouflow through

passport controls Government policies can resist inbound

migration, such as Hong Kong’s policy against mainland migrants, or allowing Filipinos to take on certain jobs, or Australia’s

Family reunification major force for migration Governments, such as Canada, using point

system to attract only skilled labour

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4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse 4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse Brain Drain”Brain Drain”

Level of outflow very high despite Chinese political system:

See “Graduate Students Studying Abroad”

Education as migration strategy—many who go out do not plan to return

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4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse 4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse Brain Drain” Brain Drain” (con’t)(con’t)

Level of outflow very high despite Chinese political system:

SEE “VIEWS ABOUT RETURNING TO CHINA”

Why people might go abroad and not return: “push” factors out of home country and

“pull” factors in host country; Push factors include political insecurity, poor

working conditions and lack of quality equipment in home country, lack of recognition for educated—OTHERS?

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4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse 4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse Brain Drain” Brain Drain” (con’t)(con’t)

Level of outflow very high despite Chinese political system:

Pull factors in Western societies include better recognition of talent, improved quality of life or status for women, government policies based on demand for cheap, technically trained graduate students, university funding for overseas students,

See Table “Why a person might not return to China”

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4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse 4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse Brain Drain” Brain Drain” (con’t)(con’t)

Reverse Migration New phenomenon in East Asia since the

1980s, with different countries or regions undergoing reverse migration at different stages of economic development

Taiwan experiences this in 1980s. Hong Kong businessmen return to make

money in China but families remain in Canada—emergence of “astronauts”

Koreans refused to return until end of military dictatorship, but children have difficult time adjusting.

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4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse 4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse Brain Drain” Brain Drain” (con’t)(con’t)

Reverse Migration Chinese reverse migration has emerged

since late 1990s—democratization has not been necessary.

Growth of MNCs interest in doing business in East Asia—many internal transfers within companies.

Hong Kong major beneficiary of desire for access to China but people not willing to live in China.

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4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse 4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse Brain Drain” Brain Drain” (con’t)(con’t)

Why Reverse Migration: Chinese Case

See Table: comparing returnees and non-returnees in development

zones

Driven by opportunities in home country, as migrants develop skills that are in short supply in their home country—otherwise they would not have gone overseas.

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4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse 4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse Brain Drain” Brain Drain” (con’t)(con’t)

Why Reverse Migration: Chinese Case Government incentives to bring people or

their technology back to the home country. Control over new technologies can bring

great profits in home economy, especially if linked with cheaper labour at home

Cultural component: “cultural comfort” and glass ceiling in Western society

Aging parents Reference now to “brain circulation” rather

than brain “drain.”

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4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse 4. “Brain Drain” and “Reverse Brain Drain” Brain Drain” (con’t)(con’t)

Benefits of Reverse Migration Technology transfer and foreign

investment

see Table on quality of technology

Role of networks established between East Asian country and the West

Key role of Silicon Valley (see Saxenian) Role of democratization unclear

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Major migration patterns in early 1990sMajor migration patterns in early 1990s

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Migrant-Migrant-worker worker

remittances in remittances in relation to relation to

GNP & export GNP & export earningsearnings

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Number of graduate students studying Number of graduate students studying abroad & their rates of return, 1952-99abroad & their rates of return, 1952-99

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2020

Views Views about about

returning to returning to ChinaChina

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2121

Intentions Intentions about about

studying in studying in the US before the US before leaving Chinaleaving China

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Trust in government policy about freedom Trust in government policy about freedom to study abroad after returningto study abroad after returning

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Why a person Why a person might not might not return to return to ChinaChina

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2424

Comparing returnees and non-Comparing returnees and non-returnees in development zonesreturnees in development zones

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