This study assesses the extent of regulation of in-migration of professionals into ASEAN countries. The focus is on two selected sectors, health care and information technology (IT). Both sectors have been given special attention in regional trade negotiations which seek to increase the mobility of professionals in ASEAN. The study is set in the framework of rising demand for more skilled manpower, associated with rapid economic growth and a high income elasticity of demand for services. We develop measures to assess the extent of regulation of in-migration in recipient countries, as well as the depth of commitments to the mobility of professionals under Mode 4. The study links several indices of regulation to stages of economic development. It finds that the more advanced countries in ASEAN tend to have made more liberal commitments under Mode 4. They also had more liberal regimes for international movements of skilled manpower in both health and IT. However there was less difference between more and less developed countries regarding general visa and work permit arrangements. Finally, because of their greater social significance, regulations related to the migration of health professionals tended to be more restrictive than for IT professionals.
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Paper provided by Australian National University, Economics RSPAS in its series Departmental Working Papers with number
2006-08.
Find related papers by JEL classification: F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations
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