Research cluster A2: Migration and development: causes and consequences
A2 focuses on the causes and consequences of migration, mainly in the longer term for both sending and receiving countries, including the phenomenon of transnationalism. The cluster puts geographically more emphasis on the causes and consequences of migration in sending countries. This includes a particular concern with countries in Central and Eastern Europe and North Africa.
In the first work package the cluster addressed research that:
1) Seeked to explain the patterns and determinants of migration. Within this theme the cluster looked at the influence of poverty, inequality and migration; The role of networks and migration culture; the role of the state and that of gender
2) Focused on the extent and use of remittances and return migration. A key factor influencing migration decisions is also the intended outcome of this decision for many sending communities - the receipt of remittances and eventual return. This inventory was organised around four main questions: why and how much do migrants remit; how are migrant remittances used, and what are the effects; what are the specific impacts of migration and remittances on gender relations within the family; and what is the role of return migration in the development process?
3) Focused on the growth of irregular migration
Here the cluster focused on the behaviour of different ethnic groups and organisations in different social contexts (cities, regions, countries, welfare states) within Europe. The irregular nature of much movement to Europe over recent years has important implications for development that are still in the process of being unravelled. Three key themes emerge of significance to development and developing countries: first, the growing irregularisation of migration; second, the impact of policies of control around western welfare states and labour markets; and third, the rise of trafficking and smuggling. All are of key relevance to development outcomes.
4) Focused on the increasing phenomenon of transnationalism
Alongside their considerable development potential, the transnational activities of migrants can also be traced to changing identities and the juxtaposition of national and transnational forms of belonging - which in turn affect the determinants of further migration. In this sense, understanding transnationalism is central to the project of understanding migration more generally.
In the first work package the cluster also reflected on migration policy and on research gaps.
In the second work package cluster A2 focused on the theme of transnationalism as developed in the state of the art report. This theme was initially explored through a focus on one of the major areas of geographical interest identified in the A2 report, Morocco. The cluster brought together the best researchers working on Moroccan migration from around Europe and Morocco to establish the current state of the art of work on Moroccan transnationalism and contrast it with other developing transnational processes.
Discussion of transnational processes fell into three main themes following the division of home country/host country/transnational processes:
1) Influences on integration. This theme beholds a diachronic, divergent comparison of Moroccan migrants in the variety of EU destination countries, particularly focusing on the different generations of migrants to assess differences between 1960s labour migration and current migrants.
2) Sending country context. Within this theme migration and significant political, economic, social and cultural processes within Morocco are linked. This will include an assessment of the diverse range of conditions influencing migration, the affects of migration on these conditions and attempts to alter them with the aim of influencing migration patterns. 3) Transnational links and processes. This theme concerns an assessment of the transnational links sustained by Moroccans residing abroad and the impact that these links may have on factors highlighted in the previous two sessions. This will focus on a variety of scales: individual, associational, national
In the third work package A2 focused on two themes: 1) Poverty, vulnerability and migration choice and 2) Impacts of irregular migration on sending countries.
In the context of the first theme they discussed inter alia (a) the influences of poverty and vulnerability on migration patterns; (b) the accessibility of migration to the poor; (c) the effects of migration on poverty reduction; and (d) the challenges, opportunities and limitations of existing datasets on migration from poorer countries to the EU.
In the context of the second theme they focused, inter alia, on (a) trends of irregular migration to Europe; (b) the effects on sending countries of European policies on irregular migration; and (c) the extent to which the lack of migrants’ legal status influences their interactions with, and impact on sending states.
