ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses macro-economic theories on migration and development in order to contribute towards a multidisciplinary understanding of migration. It has two guiding questions: does migration trigger development and/or does development trigger migration? Classic economic theory of the so-called 'convergence school' expects sending areas to obtain major benefits from out-migration for their development process. According to the most simple economic explanation of migration, people move in order to improve their life situation. In short, low- as well as high-skilled international migration will increase while internal migration will slowly decrease. The chapter argues that migration flows are largely specific to different forms of macro-economic organisation and the corresponding differences in per capita income. Macro-economic theories analyse (economic) development within spatial economic entities. In some situations migration contributes to a diverging development while in others it enforces convergence. The empirical studies reviewed indicate that migration has had positive short-term effects for sending and receiving countries.
