Konferenzbericht (PDF-Dokument, 3 MB) - SID

Wissen wandert
Contributions to the countries of origin
Contributions to the countries of origin can also have a
triple win effect: the country in case, the self respect and
feeling at home in the new environment by the migrant
and it can be in the longer run in the interest of the new
host country (more efficient use of development funding,
trade, economic ties, stability).
- Remittances: the discovery of the importance of the
94
remittances as the second flow of finances to the
South (after FDI) and far before ODA has in recent
years led to all kind of proposals and ideas. But most
of them have not substantially altered or improved
this ongoing stream. Space for improvement is re-
stricted by the justified wish of the senders to keep
their autonomy, preferences and even secrecy.
Question is, if this is bad. For instance the observa-
tion that remittances are only partly invested in pro-
ductive areas is probably true in Western eyes, but if
a considerable part is allocated to the education of
members of the extended family than this is a very
good and even broad investment, given also tradition
and culture of the extended family, where later re-
vues are distributed much less individualistic than in
our societies. And there is another dimension: of all
forms of assistance this one has probably the most
„‟positive‟‟ effect on limiting the number of unwanted
migration: if the quality of life in the sending country
is bearable in terms of access to education, health,
and especially in economic and social perspective
people could stay at home. But there is another
grave misconception, which lies at the bottom of the
limited success of redirecting the remittances to
more productive use. Again: one doesn‟t make
enough difference between sending remittances to
„‟normal „‟ countries and to failing states. Indeed: in
„‟normal‟‟ states it is scandalous that middle man and
sometimes lousy banks are charging up till 25 per-
cent of these savings – won under difficult circum-
stances - for transfer to poor households. Modern
knowledge migrates
banking techniques should reduce that to a mini-
mum. But what if there are currency restrictions, and
above all what to do in countries where the normal
banking system is not functioning, especially not in
the rural areas. And is financial engineering possible
in situations where there is a very strong demand for
foreign currency? A lot of creativity, transparency
and respect for autonomous decision making is for a
maximum utilisation of this kind of assistance, an in-
dispensable lifeline for many countries, regions and
refugee camps.
- Exportability of pensions and social security: there
are striking examples of whole regions which have
become flourishing through the exports of the pen-
sions, savings and social security allowances of re-
turning migrants (Cape Verde f.i.). But the portability
of these revenues is hardly a matter of local govern-
ment. What the local government can do is being
alert and given information about malpractices, de-
ceivers, abuses.
- Circular migration and return projects: Indeed the
Bangalore region is the example for a successful cir-
cular migration, where Indian engineers brought in
their education in Silicon Valley projects and brought
home after five years or so the skills and entrepre-
neurial spirit they had encountered over there. This
underscores the absolute importance of schooling
and education, for the befit of the – potential – em-
ployers here, for the migrant workers and again for
the country of origin. Formal education but indeed
also sometimes a cultural change, and above all also
room for entrepreneurship. In combination with sav-
ings and micro-credit this can lead to very successful
new jobs in the region of origin and local authorities
here can contribute to a pattern in which employabil-
ity here is combined with the requirements for a suc-
cessful return later, on voluntary basis. Because non
voluntary or semi voluntary return is seldom a good
incentive to make life back home a real success. Re-