Emerging Issues in Migration Policies: Implications for Data Requirements

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Emerging Issues in Migration Policies
Implications for Data Requirements

• Bela Hovy, Chief
• Migration Section
• Population Division
• Department for Economic and Social Affairs
• United Nations, New York
• http//www.unmigration.org
• http//www.unpopulation.org

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Presentation overview

• Policy framework
• Emerging issues and implications for data
  collection
• Examples
• Conclusions

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Resolution on International Migration and
DevelopmentCommission on Population and
Development, April 2006

• Set up or strengthen institutions and mechanisms
  for data collection and analysis to provide
  timely, reliable and disaggregated migration data
• Provide assistance to developing countries
• Enhance cooperation between international
  organizations in collection and processing of
  data on migration and migrants

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High-level Dialogue on International Migration
and DevelopmentUnited Nations General Assembly,
14-15 September 2006

• SG Report on International Migration and
  Development (90 pages)
• Comprehensive overview
• Forum on Migration and Development
• Other preparatory activities
• Outcome
• Migration policies based on sound evidence
• Enhanced availability, quality and timeliness of
  migration data and information

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Resolution on international migration and
development General Assembly, 2nd committee, 1
December 2006

• Development (MDGs) and human rights dimensions
• Global Forum on Migration and Development,
  Belgium, 2007
• Global Migration Group (GMG)
• 63rd session options for HLD follow-up

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Before emerging issuesThree basic questions

• How many international migrants?
• How many international migrant women, children?
• Where are the international migrants coming from?

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Transnational communities

• From diaspora to transnational communities (TNCs)
• Economic and political interests
• Definition and measurement issues
• Defining TNCs (stock)
• Defining national population
• Counting citizens or native born abroad

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Return and circular migration

• Potential for development (China, India)
• Definition and measurement issues
• Definition of return (flow)
• Definition of circulation (flow)
• Measuring immigrating and emigrating citizens
• Not just short term and long term

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Migration of the highly skilled

• Increase in demand and flows
• Brain drain, compensation
• Definition and measurement issues
• Tertiary education as proxy
• Global levels and trends unavailable

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Irregular migration

• Before arriving, upon entry, during stay
• Concerns about protection, abuse, crime
• Definition and measurement issues
• Definition (irregular, undocumented, illegal)
• Legal status administrative data
• No official data
• Combining different data sources

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Remittances

• Most tangible contribution of international
  migration to development
• Definition and measurement issues
• New definition (IMF, WB, UNSD)
• Formal and informal flows
• Country of origin and destination (remittance
  corridors)

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Example 1. Migrant stock

• Trends in total migrant stock The 2005 revision
  (UNPD, 2006)
• Place of birth, citizenship, refugees
• Sex
• Coverage (DYB)
• Age (migrant children, older migrants)
• Limited coverage
• Foreign citizens by age and sex not available
  (DYB)
• Country of birth or citizenship
• Not available (attempts)

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Example 2. Migration flows

• International migration flows The 2005 Revision
  (UNPD, 2006)
• 15 countries, since 1960s
• Immigration, emigration, net migration
• Different criteria to define international
  migrants
• Place of residence
• Place of birth
• Citizenship
• UNSD not yet published

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Conclusions (1) Data requirements

• Increased pressure to deliver
• Basic level
• trends and characteristics (sex, age, country of
  birth/citizenship)
• Complexity gt distinctions
• Type of migrant (legal status, reason, duration
  of stay, education/skills, vulnerable groups)
• Integration
• Impact

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Conclusions (2) Sources

• Improve tabulation and dissemination (dont wait
  for harmonization!)
• 2010 round of population censuses
• Quantum leap or abject failure?
• Publish and use administrative data
• Increased use of surveys
• Combining data sources