Health, social and economic impact of voluntary migration

This chapter will focus on voluntary migration. As opposed to forced migrations (Chapters 2 and 3, and case studies in Section 2), voluntary migration examines a form of migration in which individuals migrate based on their free will due to various reasons as extensively examined in the migration theories summarised in Chapter 1. Voluntary migration is not a new phenomenon and dates back to the pre-modern period. Throughout history it has occurred in various forms and has included migration from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to developed nations (south-north migration), from developed nations to LMICs (north-south migration), between LMICs (south-south migration) and between developed nations (north-north migration). The purpose of this chapter is not to cover these various and dynamic forms of voluntary migration. The chapter is intended to examine the socioeconomic and health impacts of voluntary migration. We start with a brief historical perspective on voluntary migration, followed by an examination of the international migration patterns. We then move on to examine the health burdens of international migration as well as its socioeconomic impact, focusing mainly on the brain drain/gain and remittances. We conclude by examining the policy responses and directions.