VOLUME 1, 1992

Issue No. 1

Appleyard, R.T.
"Migration and Development: A Critical Relationship." Vol. 1 (1), p. 1-18, 1992.
Wide income differentials, the threat of increased illegal immigration from developing countries, and sub-replacement fertility in the developed countries are some reasons for the recent reassessment of the relationship between migration and development. New theoretical models have emerged to identify migration's role in transitional sequences of economic and political evolution. The task of government is to integrate migration into its program for socio-economic development. The model presented in this article proposes different roles for permanent immigrants, contract workers, professional transients, illegal migrants and others according to the stages of modernization of the sending and receiving countries. The model was found consistent with the experiences of Mauritius, Seychelles, Singapore and, to a lesser extent, Malaysia.

Skeldon, Ronald
"International Migration within and from the East and Southeast Asian Region: A Review Essay." Vol. 1 (1), p. 19-63, 1992.
Five migration systems are described: settler, student, contract labor, skilled labor, and refugee. Settler migration to the U.S., Canada and Australia has consisted primarily of family members; the future may bring a greater emphasis on highly skilled and business categories. Contract labor migration, particularly to the Middle East, has provided jobs, foreign currency through remittances and greater participation of women, but also led to illegal migration, skills drain, and labor abuses. The hierarchy of development had led to intra-regional flows: (1) skilled labor mainly from Japan to other countries in the region, and (2) contract labor and illegal migration from the LDCs to the NIEs and Japan.

Gardner, Robert W.
"Asian Immigration: The View from the United States." Vol. 1 (1), p. 64-99, 1992.
Between the 1965 immigration law and 1990, Asian immigration to the United States increased tenfold to a quarter of a million annually. As sender of the most immigrants, Japan has yielded to the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, India and China. From 1974-1989, over 900,000 Southeast Asian refugees entered the United States. Most Asians today are admitted in the family preference category. On average, the sex ratio is balanced, but over 55% of immigrants from South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan are female. Asian concentrate geographically (notably in California) and exert growing political influence in those areas. Except for refugees, Asians are generally viewed as having a positive impact as students and workers. On the other hand, in as much as they contribute to ethnic diversity, they fan the current fears over threats to a common American cultural heritage. Anti-Asian hate crimes and interethnic violence have risen. Asian immigration is likely to continue to rise and show greater emphasis on employment preference categories.

Hugo, Graeme
"Knocking at the Doors: Asian Immigration to Australia." Vol. 1 (1), p. 100-144, 1992.
This paper assesses the level and composition of contemporary Asian immigration to Australia and explores its processes and impacts. The final reversal of the White Australia Policy in the 1970s opened the door to substantial increases in Asian immigration, particularly from Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, India and Hong Kong. Most migrants are entering through the family reunion, refugee and business migration categories. Vietnamese dominate both family reunion and refugee categories, but the recent prominence among family migrants of Filipino wives and fiancees of Australian men is drawing attention and controversy. Asian migrants tend to be young and female, but there are also great variations in their economic and social adaptations to Australia. Discrimination, exploitation and unemployment are among the problems faced by some Asian groups.

Abella, Manolo
"The Troublesome Gulf: Research on Migration to the Middle East." Vol. 1 (1), p. 145-167, 1992.
This review of recent research outlines changes in the composition and organization of labor supplies to the Middle East since the 1970s and indicates some effects on both sending and receiving countries. Before the recent Gulfwar, Asians increasingly supplanted Arab migrant workers, entering the Gulf labor force through kinship networks, recruitment agencies and project-tied migration. At the national level, this emigration has sometimes led to severe labor shortages, as in Pakistan. Another effect is the impact of remittances on saving and investment behavior. A few detailed studies about countries of origin have provided insights into the push factors of the migration process; however, a major problem limiting research is poor survey and census data. In addition, research is lacking on the conditions of Asian migrant workers in the Middle East, the impact of emigration on demographic trends, and the important link between migration and development.

Singh, J.P.
"Migration in India: A Review." Vol. 1 (1), p. 168-192, 1992.
Migration in India has received increased scholarly attention in the past forty years, assisted by additional categories of data collected through the National Census. Considering the volume of both internal and international migration, the Indian population is relatively immobile. Most movements occur locally; 60 percent of internal migration is rural-rural on an intra-district level, consisting primarily of women moving with their husbands after marriage. Next in importance is the rural-urban migration of males seeking economic gain. The few studies done on migrants' characteristics show migration to be highly selective of age, sex, marital status, education, occupation and caste. The specific role of poverty in causing migration is still under debate. Key areas for further research include a greater focus on immobility; the social and demographic consequences of migration on sending and receiving communities; and the social, economic and demographic behavior of the migrants.