The impact of the economic crisis on international migration: a review

Abstract

The global economic crisis that exploded in 2008 dramatically changed the context for international migration. In that context, this review article addresses four related questions about migration from poor to rich countries. First, what has been the impact of the global recession on patterns of international migration? Second, to what extent do recession-induced changes in migration offer evidence in the debate among competing explanations of migration? Third, has the recession heightened the marginalization of migrants? Fourth, to what extent have nations responded to the recession by regulating migration in new ways? Findings include reduced migration flows in the recession, evidence for both economic and social explanations, little evidence in unemployment rates for further marginalization of migrants and limited movement toward added migration restrictions.