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Global Migration in the 20th and 21st Centuries: the Unstoppable Force of Demography

Author

Listed:
  • Thu Hien DAO

    (IRES - Université Catholique de Louvain)

  • Frédéric DOCQUIER

    (Université Catholique de Louvain)

  • Mathilde MAUREL

    (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne CNRS - Université Paris 1)

  • Pierre SCHAUS

    (Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Université catholique de Louvain)

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the global migration patterns of the past 40 years, and produces migration projections for the 21st century, for two skill groups, and for all relevant pairs of countries. To do this, we build a simple model of the world economy, and we parameterize it to match the economic and socio-demographic characteristics of the world in the year 2010. We conduct a backcasting exercise which demonstrates that our model fits the past trends in international migration very well, and that historical trends were mostly governed by demographic changes. We then describe a set of migration projections for the 21st century. In line with backcasts, our world migration prospects and emigration rates from developing countries are mainly governed by socio-demographic changes: they are virtually insensitive to the technological environment. As far as OECD countries are concerned, we predict a highly robust increase in immigration pressures in general (from 12 in 2010 to 17-19% in 2050 and 25-28% in 2100), and in European immigration in particular (from 15% in 2010 to 23-25% in 2050 and 36-39% in 2100). Using development policies to curb these pressures requires triggering unprecedented economic takeoffs in migrants countries of origin. Increasing migration is therefore a likely phenomenon for the 21st century, and this raises societal and political challenges for most industrialized countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Thu Hien DAO & Frédéric DOCQUIER & Mathilde MAUREL & Pierre SCHAUS, 2018. "Global Migration in the 20th and 21st Centuries: the Unstoppable Force of Demography," Working Papers P223, FERDI.
  • Handle: RePEc:fdi:wpaper:4269
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    3. Konstantin Boss & Andre Groeger & Tobias Heidland & Finja Krueger & Conghan Zheng, 2023. "Forecasting Bilateral Refugee Flows with High-dimensional Data and Machine Learning Techniques," Working Papers 1387, Barcelona School of Economics.
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    5. Sinnl, Markus, 2022. "Exact and heuristic algorithms for the maximum weighted submatrix coverage problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 298(3), pages 821-833.
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    8. Heidland, Tobias & Jannsen, Nils & Groll, Dominik & Kalweit, René & Boockmann, Bernhard, 2021. "Analyse und Prognose von Migrationsbewegungen," Kieler Beiträge zur Wirtschaftspolitik 34, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    9. Docquier Frédéric, 2018. "Long-Term Trends in International Migration: Lessons from Macroeconomic Model," Economics and Business Review, Sciendo, vol. 4(1), pages 3-15, April.
    10. Rémi DE BERCEGOL & Jérémie CAVE & Arch NGUYEN THAI HUYEN, 2018. "Informal Recycling vs municipal Waste Service in Asian cities: Opposition or Integration?," Working Paper 07c154f8-d6a3-4480-907b-1, Agence française de développement.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    international migration; migration propects; world economy; Inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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