ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how migration affects economic and political development. Emigration—people moving out of a country—has both positive and negative effects. On the plus side, emigration can decrease unemployment; incentivize increased education; increase ties to the international economy; provide much-needed funds for families through remittances; and lead to the transfer of democratic norms, if emigrants move to democracies. On the negative side, emigration can lead to the loss of critical highly educated workers; might create a dependency on foreign income; and can bolster autocratic governments by moving out people who may oppose the regime.
