Diaspora & Economy: Effects of the Economic
Slowdown on Remittances
Muhammad Sohaib
BBRM-10
Sustainable Development Policy Institute
1
Outline
• Introduction
• Global Economic Slowdown
• Patterns and Trends in Migration
• Contributions of Diaspora
• Remittances Flow to Developing Countries
• Remittances to Pakistan
• Some Case Studies
• GoP Initiatives
• Future Outlook
• Overseas Pakistanis: Manifestos of Political Parties 2013
Introduction
• Diaspora
• Pakistani Diaspora
• Types of Diaspora
Labor Diaspora
Brain Drain
Immigrants
• Destinations of Migrants
Global Economic Slowdown
• Global Financial Crisis 2007
• Global Economy Contracted in 2008-2009
• Downturn directly hit the advanced economies
• In 2009 GDP per capita turned down in 60 out of 107
developing economies (UN 2010)
Source: UN Global Economic Outlook 2012
Patterns and Trends in Migration
There are few jumps and down falls, but there is a big climb started in 2005
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000
450000
500000
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Total Migrants
Type Wise Migrants
2000 - 2012
Decline in unskilled migrants
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000 2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Highly Qualified
Highly Skilled
Skilled
Semi Skilled
Un-Skilled
Pakistani Workers Registered for Overseas Employment
2002-2012
Migrant flow to: UAE drops in 2008, Saudi Arabia 2009 and diminishes in Oman in 2009
Data Source: BEOE
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Oman
Pakistani Workers Registered for Overseas Employment
2002-2012
Decline observed in the case of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
Punjab
Sindh
K.Pakhtunkhwa
Balochistan
Azad Kashmir
N.Area
Tribal Area
Contributions of Diasporas
Diasporas contributed in three facets
• Remittances
• Brain Drain
(Brain Drain is a talent mobility; which can bring benefits to both host and home countries)
- South Asian Brain Dain
- Silicon valley of India (Bangalore)
• Role as Intermediaries
-Diasporas can connect home countries to foreign investors
- Cultural interpreters
Remittances to Developing Countries
Remittances have shown resilience than FDI since the
global financial crisis
Developing countries received $ 401 billion remittances
in 2012(World Bank)
In history it can be observe that remittance remained
stable
(Mexican financial crisis 1995, Asian Market Crisis 1997)
Remittances to Developing Countries
The remittance flows to developing countries in 2006 were 235 $billion and it increased in 2007
with a growth rate of 22.9 percent to 289 $billion, and increased to 338 $billion in 2008 with a
growth rate of 16.9 percent
Top 10 Recipients of Remittances in 2012
69
60
24 23
21 21
14 14
10
7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
India China Philipines Mexico Nigeria Egypt Banladesh Pakistan Vietnam Lebnan
$USBillion
Three South Asian countries are in top 10 recipients
Source: World Bank, Migration and Remittance Brief 20
Workers’ Remittances to Pakistan
2002-2011
Was there no impact of Global Financial Crisis on Remittances?
Data Source: State Bank of Pakistan
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
US$Million
Some Case Studies
Barajas et al (2010) investigated the effect of economic
slow down on worker’s remittances of Africa
(Many countries were forecast to lose 0.1 to 0.2 percent GDP growth due to fall in
remittances in 2009)
Ratha. D and Mahapatra. S argued that the global
financial crisis has caused decline in remittance flows to
low income economies
Balan et al (2011) evaluated the remittances and
migration flows during the financial crisis in the
European Countries
Some Case Studies
Raihan .S (2010) examined the impact of global
financial crisis on remittances, exports and poverty in
Bangladesh.
(He analyzed the negative shock in remittance will result decline in real GDP by 0.1
percent)
Raihan. S (2010) explored the impact of global financial
crisis on migration and remittances in Bangladesh.
(The macro statistics showed positive growth in remittances during the crisis but there
were large number of household who faced fall in remittance inflows by migrants)
Some Case Studies
Ahmed et al. (2010) examined the impact of
remittances on economy and household welfare
(If remittances inflows reduced to 50 percent, the GDP growth declined to 0.7% as a
result and investment and imports also decreased to 7.7 percent and 6.4 percent
respectively)
Ahmed and Sugiyarto (2012) find that improvement of
household consumption and investment are positively
and consumer prices are negatively associated with
remittances
GoP Initiatives
• BOEO is working under the emigration ordinance of
1979
• Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC)
• Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF)
• Foreign Remittance Card Scheme
• Pakistan Remittance Initiative
Workers’ Remittances from Abroad
2002-2011
• Remittances not affected during and after the crisis
– Traditional migrant economies in Middle East remained
insulated (except UAE)
– Indian Diaspora in Middle East was a lesser competition
given the appreciation of Indian currency
– The weakening of Pakistani currency implied that
Diaspora’s consumer surplus increased when purchase was
made locally
Future Outlook
• Demand Side Factors
 The flow of remittances will continue to increase in the
foreseeable future
 Pakistani migrants have embarked upon non-traditional
workplace destinations as well
 East is a good Option
 The banking sector in Pakistan is now viewing the remittances
as a major source of business
Future Outlook
• Supply Side Factors
 EU will remain in recession
 North America will continue to Maintain its strict visa policies
 China and East Asia will be future engines for Economic
Growth
 Middle East will continue to diversify away from South Asian
Migrants
Recommendations
• Diaspora may be engaged beyond their monetary
contributions : in terms of knowledge and technology
• Migration Policy needs to be aligned with the Development
Policy
• Banking Sector can play a vital role
• Role of Overseas Pakistanis Division needs to be revisited
Overseas Pakistanis: Political Parties
Manifestos 2013
• Pakistan Muslim League – N
• Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
• Pakistan Peoples Party
• Pakistan Muslim League - Q
• Muttahida Qauami Movement
sohaib@sdpi.org
23
Thank You

Diaspora and Economy: Effects of Global Economic Slowdown on Remittances

  • 1.
    Diaspora & Economy:Effects of the Economic Slowdown on Remittances Muhammad Sohaib BBRM-10 Sustainable Development Policy Institute 1
  • 2.
    Outline • Introduction • GlobalEconomic Slowdown • Patterns and Trends in Migration • Contributions of Diaspora • Remittances Flow to Developing Countries • Remittances to Pakistan • Some Case Studies • GoP Initiatives • Future Outlook • Overseas Pakistanis: Manifestos of Political Parties 2013
  • 3.
    Introduction • Diaspora • PakistaniDiaspora • Types of Diaspora Labor Diaspora Brain Drain Immigrants • Destinations of Migrants
  • 4.
    Global Economic Slowdown •Global Financial Crisis 2007 • Global Economy Contracted in 2008-2009 • Downturn directly hit the advanced economies • In 2009 GDP per capita turned down in 60 out of 107 developing economies (UN 2010) Source: UN Global Economic Outlook 2012
  • 5.
    Patterns and Trendsin Migration There are few jumps and down falls, but there is a big climb started in 2005 0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000 350000 400000 450000 500000 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total Migrants
  • 6.
    Type Wise Migrants 2000- 2012 Decline in unskilled migrants 0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Highly Qualified Highly Skilled Skilled Semi Skilled Un-Skilled
  • 7.
    Pakistani Workers Registeredfor Overseas Employment 2002-2012 Migrant flow to: UAE drops in 2008, Saudi Arabia 2009 and diminishes in Oman in 2009 Data Source: BEOE 0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Saudi Arabia UAE Oman
  • 8.
    Pakistani Workers Registeredfor Overseas Employment 2002-2012 Decline observed in the case of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab 0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000 Punjab Sindh K.Pakhtunkhwa Balochistan Azad Kashmir N.Area Tribal Area
  • 9.
    Contributions of Diasporas Diasporascontributed in three facets • Remittances • Brain Drain (Brain Drain is a talent mobility; which can bring benefits to both host and home countries) - South Asian Brain Dain - Silicon valley of India (Bangalore) • Role as Intermediaries -Diasporas can connect home countries to foreign investors - Cultural interpreters
  • 10.
    Remittances to DevelopingCountries Remittances have shown resilience than FDI since the global financial crisis Developing countries received $ 401 billion remittances in 2012(World Bank) In history it can be observe that remittance remained stable (Mexican financial crisis 1995, Asian Market Crisis 1997)
  • 11.
    Remittances to DevelopingCountries The remittance flows to developing countries in 2006 were 235 $billion and it increased in 2007 with a growth rate of 22.9 percent to 289 $billion, and increased to 338 $billion in 2008 with a growth rate of 16.9 percent
  • 12.
    Top 10 Recipientsof Remittances in 2012 69 60 24 23 21 21 14 14 10 7 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 India China Philipines Mexico Nigeria Egypt Banladesh Pakistan Vietnam Lebnan $USBillion Three South Asian countries are in top 10 recipients Source: World Bank, Migration and Remittance Brief 20
  • 13.
    Workers’ Remittances toPakistan 2002-2011 Was there no impact of Global Financial Crisis on Remittances? Data Source: State Bank of Pakistan 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 US$Million
  • 14.
    Some Case Studies Barajaset al (2010) investigated the effect of economic slow down on worker’s remittances of Africa (Many countries were forecast to lose 0.1 to 0.2 percent GDP growth due to fall in remittances in 2009) Ratha. D and Mahapatra. S argued that the global financial crisis has caused decline in remittance flows to low income economies Balan et al (2011) evaluated the remittances and migration flows during the financial crisis in the European Countries
  • 15.
    Some Case Studies Raihan.S (2010) examined the impact of global financial crisis on remittances, exports and poverty in Bangladesh. (He analyzed the negative shock in remittance will result decline in real GDP by 0.1 percent) Raihan. S (2010) explored the impact of global financial crisis on migration and remittances in Bangladesh. (The macro statistics showed positive growth in remittances during the crisis but there were large number of household who faced fall in remittance inflows by migrants)
  • 16.
    Some Case Studies Ahmedet al. (2010) examined the impact of remittances on economy and household welfare (If remittances inflows reduced to 50 percent, the GDP growth declined to 0.7% as a result and investment and imports also decreased to 7.7 percent and 6.4 percent respectively) Ahmed and Sugiyarto (2012) find that improvement of household consumption and investment are positively and consumer prices are negatively associated with remittances
  • 17.
    GoP Initiatives • BOEOis working under the emigration ordinance of 1979 • Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) • Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) • Foreign Remittance Card Scheme • Pakistan Remittance Initiative
  • 18.
    Workers’ Remittances fromAbroad 2002-2011 • Remittances not affected during and after the crisis – Traditional migrant economies in Middle East remained insulated (except UAE) – Indian Diaspora in Middle East was a lesser competition given the appreciation of Indian currency – The weakening of Pakistani currency implied that Diaspora’s consumer surplus increased when purchase was made locally
  • 19.
    Future Outlook • DemandSide Factors  The flow of remittances will continue to increase in the foreseeable future  Pakistani migrants have embarked upon non-traditional workplace destinations as well  East is a good Option  The banking sector in Pakistan is now viewing the remittances as a major source of business
  • 20.
    Future Outlook • SupplySide Factors  EU will remain in recession  North America will continue to Maintain its strict visa policies  China and East Asia will be future engines for Economic Growth  Middle East will continue to diversify away from South Asian Migrants
  • 21.
    Recommendations • Diaspora maybe engaged beyond their monetary contributions : in terms of knowledge and technology • Migration Policy needs to be aligned with the Development Policy • Banking Sector can play a vital role • Role of Overseas Pakistanis Division needs to be revisited
  • 22.
    Overseas Pakistanis: PoliticalParties Manifestos 2013 • Pakistan Muslim League – N • Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf • Pakistan Peoples Party • Pakistan Muslim League - Q • Muttahida Qauami Movement
  • 23.