Complete Thesis_double spaced abstract.pdf

individuals from emigrating. Additionally, states may purposefully construct unrestrictive
emigration policies; in either circumstance emigration data exists, and is available to be analyzed.
Emigration: Contemporary Themes-Expanding the Existing Literature
Recently there has been a shift in the migration literature to examine several topics that
are related specifically to emigration, namely remittances, development and brain drain. These
topics are interrelated to one another; each having significant impacts on the sending state. As
skilled and unskilled migrants emigrate from their sending states, they take with them various
skills and resources that would otherwise be available, but not necessarily utilized, in their
sending state. Once in the receiving state migrants may remit a portion of their wages to their
sending state, these resources may or may not be used to develop infrastructure and capital
projects, smooth consumption and alleviate poverty, and invest in education. The impact of
remittances, the prospect of development, and the problem of brain drain have led to debates by
policymakers in sending states as to the best methods to manage the impacts of each of these
topics. Restrictive emigration policies may retain highly skilled workers, but they may
simultaneously restrict the amount of remittances to sending states and hinder economic
development. Unrestrictive emigration policies may result in the loss of highly skilled and
educated workers, reduce unemployment in certain sectors, and provide remittance resources to
sending communities. However, neither policy option produces consistent results over time in
every type of sending state.
Emigrant Remittances
The practice of remitting has increased in intensity and extensity in recent years,
correspondingly the issue of remittances has gained prominence in the migration literature. Stark
and Bloom’s (1985) “new economics of labor migration” facilitated the movement of remittances
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