International Migration Outlook 2022 | 14 Oct 2022

Why in News?

Recently, International Migration Outlook 2022, a report on international migration patterns was released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

What are the Highlights of the Report?

  • Global Scenario:
    • After a record decrease in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis, permanent-type migration to OECD countries bounced back by 22% in 2021.
    • Family migration increased by 40% in 2021 and remained the largest category of inflows, accounting for more than four in ten new permanent immigrants to the OECD.
    • Migration in free mobility areas was less affected by the pandemic, but still fell by 17% in 2020.
    • In 2020, there were 4.4 million international students enrolled in the OECD, accounting for 10% of all tertiary students. The most important receiving countries are the United States (22%), the United Kingdom (13%) and Australia (10%).
    • The United States remained the largest recipient of permanent immigrants in 2021 (834 000), 43% more than in 2020, and 19% less than in 2019. In the EU, the upturn in permanent-type migration (+15%) was less pronounced.
  • Indian Scenario:
    • Students from China (22%) and India (10%) account for the largest share of foreign students in OECD countries. About a third of the world’s population aged 20-29 live in these two countries.
    • A look at the stay rates of Indians and Chinese students who had obtained their education permit in 2015 shows that in nearly every OECD country, including Canada, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Japan, Indians have significantly higher retention rates than the Chinese.
    • Indian students tend to have a higher stay rate than the overall international student population.

What is OECD?

  • About: The OECD is an intergovernmental economic organisation, founded to stimulate economic progress and world trade.
    Most OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development Index (HDI) and are regarded as developed countries.
  • Founded: 1961.
  • Headquarters: Paris, France.
  • Total Members: 38.
  • The most recent countries to join the OECD were Colombia, in April 2020, and Costa Rica, in May 2021.
  • India is not a member, but a key economic partner.
  • Reports and Indices by OECD
    • Government at a Glance
    • OECD Better Life Index.

What are the Different Types of Migration?

  • On the Basis of Movement Pattern
    • Step Migration: Migration initiating from a small settlement and moving to a larger one in the urban hierarchy over the years. Such as movement from a farm to a village, then to a town and subsequently to a suburb (if applicable) and finally into a city.
    • Circular Migration: Cyclical migration experiences between an origin and a destination with at least one migration and return.
      • Seasonal Migration is a very common form of circular migration, driven by seasonal peaks in labor demand, mostly in agriculture.
      • Return Migration refers to a one-time emigration and returns after an extended stay outside the host territory.
      • Chain Migration: Migration of families at different stages of the life cycle from one location to the next, who subsequently bring people from their home location to this new place.
  • On the Basis Decision-making Approach:
    • Voluntary Migration: Based on a person’s free will, initiative, and desire to live in a better place and to improve their financial status, among other factors.
    • Involuntary Migration: Based on a person’s being forced out of their home due to certain unfavorable environmental and political situations.
  • On the Basis of Duration:
    • Permanent Migration: When people migrate to another place over a long distance for living there for a long period, it is called a permanent migration. For example, a person has moved from Satna (Madhya Pradesh) to Gurugram (Haryana) for better job opportunities and he planned to settle there. This type of migration will be considered permanent migration.
    • Temporary Migration: It is migration to a country that is not intended to be permanent, for a specified and limited period of time, and usually undertaken for a specific purpose.

Source: IE