Linking Migration and Household Welfare in Cameroon: Zooming Into the Effect of Return Migration on Self-employment

Linking Migration and Household Welfare in Cameroon: Zooming Into the Effect of Return Migration on Self-employment
Author: Belmondo Tanankem Voufo
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2017
Genre:
ISBN:

International migration and its impacts on development is a crucial theme widely discussed in Cameroon. Although Cameroonians, especially the youth, have long been traveling, studying or living abroad, the idea of finding better living conditions elsewhere has gained prominence over the recent years. According to the most recent estimates from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of Cameroonians living abroad was estimated at 170,363 in 2007, for a population estimated at 20 million inhabitants. Moreover, in 2016 official remittances inflows to Cameroon were estimated at US$ 250 million, up from US$ 135 million in 2010, and representing approximatively 0.9% of GDP. There are evidences around the world supporting the existence of significant links between migration and remittances and (1) employment (including self-employment), (2) households welfare, and (3) income distribution and economic development. However, despite the substantial number of Cameroonians living abroad and the large amount of remittances inflows to the country, the effects of migration and remittances on development outcomes are still not well known. The available studies have investigated the effects of migration on income poverty and on the education of left behind children, as well as the effects of remittances on households expenditures. To the best of our knowledge, the effects on non-monetary poverty and employment have not been explored. This research thus seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the effects of migration and remittances on household welfare and labour market participation in Cameroon, by answering the two following questions: (i) How do migration and remittances affect households welfare in Cameroon? (ii) How do migration and remittances affect labour market participation (self-employment) in Cameroon? These research questions are relevant for Cameroon from a policy viewpoint, considering not only the countrys rich migration experience but also the fact that the Government is currently implementing the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper, which aims to improve households living conditions and create job opportunities, among others. A well-articulated and well-managed migration and remittances policies can help the Government achieving these development objectives. Findings from the current study could then support policies and actions toward the creation of the enabling environment that fosters the contribution of migration to the countrys development. The data used for the analyses were gathered from the survey on the impact of migration on development in Cameroon conducted in 2012 by the Observatory on Migration of the African Caribbean Organization, in collaboration with the Institute of Demographic Research and Training. The data set counts 1,235 households, of which 453 (or 36.68%) have an absent migrant, and 294 (23.80%) a return migrant. For 83.45% of households with absent migrant, the migrant resides in an African country. Moreover, having an absent migrant does not necessarily leads to reception of remittances by the household. Indeed, 52.82% of households with absent migrants received remittances in the past 12 months prior to the survey. Remittances recipient households generally have higher monthly per capita expenditures than non-recipient ones. They also allocate less of their budget on food expenditures, and more on education expenditures than their non-recipient counterparts. Migration and remittances may then contribute to human capital accumulation through investment in education. To further investigate the impact of migration and remittances on household welfare, we used the Principal Component Analysis to construct an asset index combining 26 assets variables capturing ownership of household consumer goods (TV, washing machine, radio, etc.), productive assets (land, agricultural equipment, livestock, etc.), and access to basic utility services (potable water, electricity, sanitation, etc.). The welfare index is also broken down into three sub-indexes capturing ownership of household consumer goods, ownership of productive assets and access to basic utility services. Remittances can indeed reduce income poverty in the short run, but if remittances help household accumulating productive assets, diversifying their income sources through entrepreneurial activities, then a significant poverty reduction effect in the long run will be possible. The study finds that having a migrant member or receiving remittances increases the households per capita expenditures, and reduces the likelihood of living below the poverty line. In addition, migration and remittances contribute to the accumulation of consumer assets, to access to basic utility services, but do not significantly affect productive assets ownership. Besides, self-employment is more likely to occur in households having a return migrant, while receiving remittances decreases the likelihood of being self-employed. Meanwhile, the effect of the presence of absent migrants in the household on self-employment decision is negative but insignificant. Our results then show that while migrants staying abroad contribute to the left-behind families welfare improvement through the remittances they send, the returnees are more prone to set-up a business hence generating employment opportunities. To support these entrepreneurs, the Government should intervene to create an enabling environment, by improving the business environment and making it easier to access finances.

Migration, Environment and Climate Change

Migration, Environment and Climate Change
Author: Frank Laczko
Publisher: UN
Total Pages: 448
Release: 2009
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Gradual and sudden environmental changes are resulting in substantial human movement and displacement, and the scale of such flows, both internal and cross-border, is expected to rise with unprecedented impacts on lives and livelihoods. Despite the potential challenge, there has been a lack of strategic thinking about this policy area partly due to a lack of data and empirical research on this topic. Adequately planning for and managing environmentallyinduced migration will be critical for human security. The papers in this volume were first presented at the Research Workshop on Migration and the Environment: Developing a Global Research Agenda held in Munich, Germany in April 2008. One of the key objectives on the Munich workshop was to address the need for more sound empirical research and identify priority areas of research for policy makers in the field of migration and the environment.

Shock Waves

Shock Waves
Author: Stephane Hallegatte
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 227
Release: 2015-11-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464806748

Ending poverty and stabilizing climate change will be two unprecedented global achievements and two major steps toward sustainable development. But the two objectives cannot be considered in isolation: they need to be jointly tackled through an integrated strategy. This report brings together those two objectives and explores how they can more easily be achieved if considered together. It examines the potential impact of climate change and climate policies on poverty reduction. It also provides guidance on how to create a “win-win†? situation so that climate change policies contribute to poverty reduction and poverty-reduction policies contribute to climate change mitigation and resilience building. The key finding of the report is that climate change represents a significant obstacle to the sustained eradication of poverty, but future impacts on poverty are determined by policy choices: rapid, inclusive, and climate-informed development can prevent most short-term impacts whereas immediate pro-poor, emissions-reduction policies can drastically limit long-term ones.

Diaspora for Development in Africa

Diaspora for Development in Africa
Author: Sonia Plaza
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 358
Release: 2011
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821382586

The diaspora of developing countries can be a potent force for development, through remittances, but more importantly, through promotion of trade, investment, knowledge and technology transfers. The book aims to consolidate research and evidence on these issues with a view to formulating policies in both sending and receiving countries.

The Future of Migration to Europe

The Future of Migration to Europe
Author: matteo villa
Publisher: Ledizioni
Total Pages: 106
Release: 2020-05-14
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 8855262025

Even as the 2013-2017 “migration crisis” is increasingly in the past, EU countries still struggle to come up with alternative solutions to foster safe, orderly, and regular migration pathways, Europeans continue to look in the rear-view mirror.This Report is an attempt to reverse the perspective, by taking a glimpse into the future of migration to Europe. What are the structural trends underlying migration flows to Europe, and how are they going to change over the next two decades? How does migration interact with specific policy fields, such as development, border management, and integration? And what are the policies and best practicies to manage migration in a more coherent and evidence-based way?

World Development Report 2019

World Development Report 2019
Author: World Bank
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 201
Release: 2018-10-31
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464813566

Work is constantly reshaped by technological progress. New ways of production are adopted, markets expand, and societies evolve. But some changes provoke more attention than others, in part due to the vast uncertainty involved in making predictions about the future. The 2019 World Development Report will study how the nature of work is changing as a result of advances in technology today. Technological progress disrupts existing systems. A new social contract is needed to smooth the transition and guard against rising inequality. Significant investments in human capital throughout a person’s lifecycle are vital to this effort. If workers are to stay competitive against machines they need to train or retool existing skills. A social protection system that includes a minimum basic level of protection for workers and citizens can complement new forms of employment. Improved private sector policies to encourage startup activity and competition can help countries compete in the digital age. Governments also need to ensure that firms pay their fair share of taxes, in part to fund this new social contract. The 2019 World Development Report presents an analysis of these issues based upon the available evidence.

The Economic Impact of Conflicts and the Refugee Crisis in the Middle East and North Africa

The Economic Impact of Conflicts and the Refugee Crisis in the Middle East and North Africa
Author: Mr.Bjoern Rother
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 43
Release: 2016-09-16
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1475535783

In recent decades, the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) has experienced more frequent and severe conflicts than in any other region of the world, exacting a devastating human toll. The region now faces unprecedented challenges, including the emergence of violent non-state actors, significant destruction, and a refugee crisis bigger than any since World War II. This paper raises awareness of the economic costs of conflicts on the countries directly involved and on their neighbors. It argues that appropriate macroeconomic policies can help mitigate the impact of conflicts in the short term, and that fostering higher and more inclusive growth can help address some of the root causes of conflicts over the long term. The paper also highlights the crucial role of external partners, including the IMF, in helping MENA countries tackle these challenges.

Sustainable Reintegration of Returning Migrants A Better Homecoming

Sustainable Reintegration of Returning Migrants A Better Homecoming
Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2020-10-15
Genre:
ISBN: 9264649913

For many OECD countries, how to ensure the safe and dignified return to their origin countries of migrants who do not have grounds to remain is a key question. Sustainable Reintegration of Returning Migrants: A Better Homecoming reports the results of a multi-country peer review project carried out by the OECD, with support from the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Remittances

Remittances
Author: Samuel Munzele Maimbo
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 402
Release: 2005
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821357948

Migrants have long faced unwarranted constraints to sending money to family members and relatives in their home countries, among them costly fees and commissions, inconvenient formal banking hours, and inefficient domestic banking services that delay final payment to the beneficiaries. Yet such remittances are perhaps the largest source of external finance in developing countries. Officially recorded remittance flows to developing countries exceeded US$125 billion in 2004, making them the second largest source of development finance after foreign direct investment. This book demonstrates that governments in developing countries increasingly recognize the importance of remittance flows and are quickly addressing these constraints.