Circular migration and development
Circular migration - i.e. migration involving movement to one country and then back to the country of origin has attracted more and more attention in recent years as a phenomenon with the potential to create positive effects on development.
When migrants return to their countries of origin, even temporarily, they can contribute acquired knowledge, contacts and experience that benefit development in the country of origin. Circular migration can also mitigate the negative effects of migration, such as the 'brain drain'. There are many indications that circular patterns of movement are the norm when borders are open and when it is allowed by the system. For example, many of the Swedes who travelled to the US during the great Swedish-American emigration returned a few years later. During the last decade of the 19th century alone, the stream of returnees to Sweden was one quarter the size of those emigrating.
Facilitating circular migration involves creating opportunities for migrants to move between countries of origin and recipient countries. This can be achieved by removing obstacles to movement or by encouraging movement.
A parliamentary committee on circular migration and development was appointed in July 2009. An interim report containing a survey and discussion of the concept was presented in May 2010. Among other things, the committee noted that more than 2 000 000 circular migrations involving Sweden have occurred since 1969, by some 280 000 circular migrants. Circular migration within the Nordic region dominated until the 1990s, but since then it has reduced somewhat, while migratory exchange with EU Member States and countries such as India and China has increased.
The committees final report Circular migration and development - proposals and future perspectives (SOU 2011:28) was presented on 31 March 2011. The final report contains concrete proposals in several policy areas aimed at facilitating circular migration and promoting its positive effects on development. The final report is currently being circulated for comment.
