Inclusive Growth and Economic Crises

Economic crises can have enormous impact on migration, both short-term and long-term, and direct and indirect. The economic crisis of 1929 led to a decrease in international migration, and the return of large numbers of internal migrants as employment declined. For example, in February 1931, almost 60,000 jute mill workers – about one-fifth of the total – were dismissed as a result of the trade depression, and according to the labour commissioner the employees ‘melted like snow in summer’ (quoted in de Haan 1994: 27), returning to their villages of origin. ¹