Monday, December 18 marks International Migrants Day. According to the UN, the number of international migrants around the world reached 244 million in 2015. Much attention has been given to the impact of migration on host countries but how does it impact emigrants’ home countries?

Elisabetta Lodigiani found that migrants can have positive political effects on their home countries’ institutions. “The number of immigrants from developing countries living in richer, more developed countries has increased substantially during the last decades. At the same time, the quality of institutions in developing countries has also improved.” However the induced democratization process from abroad can only occur if migrants have the possibility of integrating and participating in the social and economic activities in the host country.

However, whilst return migration can have multiple benefits, not all developing countries benefit from returning migrants. “…if returnees are not able to reintegrate into the home labor market after a period of absence, or if they return with skills that do not match the requirements of the home market, this could lead to brain waste rather than brain gain,” writes Jackline Wahba.

Related articles on migrant-native issues include: 

• The effect of emigration on home-country political institutions by Elisabetta Lodigiani
• Who benefits from return migration to developing countries? by Jackline Wahba
• Migration and female genital mutilation by Sandrine Mesplé-Somps

View our video Five common fears about immigration.