The Economic Costs and Benefits and Human Gains and Disadvantages of International Migration

Economic cost and benefit analysis should be complemented by analysis of other value systems such as human gains and disadvantage in the formulation of sound national policies. They will help in the evaluation of factors affecting the volume of international migration, the selection of people who move, the temporary or permanent character of the movement, and the human and economic effects. Recent experience in Western Europe forms a basis for the items to be considered in each of the two types of analysis. The conversion of the human gains and disadvantages into one or a series of balance sheets must await the results of studies being made to establish units of measurement. Three sites for decision-making currently exist and the analysis considers each of them, the individual, the enterprise, and the nation. Each is examined at the time when decisions for emigration are made, when the length of stay is being determined, and during the return when the migrant must consider the possibilities of further emigration. Public policy acts as an outside constraint on movement. The dynamism for movement is to be found in the decision-making process occurring among individuals and enterprises. Recent European experience provides information for the analyses because of its large volume, the importance of emigrating and return movements, changing government policy, the frequency of re-emigration of the migrants who had returned to their home country, and the behavior differences of various national groups in the same receiving country. These studies can be useful in guiding national policies and programs for migrant integration and the allocation of responsibilities among the public, governmental, and private groups. Knowledge of the human gains and disadvantages must become an integral part of the fund of information required for policy making so that appropriate weight may be assigned to the value systems other than economic in reaching final decisions respecting national policies.