VOLUME 3, 1994

Issue No. 1 - Turning Points in Labor Migration

Fields, Gary S.
"The Migration Transition in Asia." Vol. 3 (1), p. 7-30, 1994.
This theoretical discussion of the migration transition is Asia develops a framework to understand the turning point from labor exporter to labor importer experienced by the Asian NIEs (Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan). The author concludes that the NIEs' demand for labor curve shifted rapidly, primarily due to export-led growth of a labor-intensive character. Because these economies are well integrated, improvements in labor market conditions in individual sectors are transmitted to all workers, discouraging emigration. Despite industry's efforts to mitigate wage increases through labor import, new technology or relocation overseas, the rapidly improving domestic earnings opportunities induced the migration transition.

Nayyar, Deepak
"International Labor Movements, Trade Flows and Migration Transitions: A Theoretical Perspective." Vol. 3 (1), p. 31-47, 1994.
This article presents a theoretical analysis of how the processes of industrialization and development interact with international trade in goods or services to influence a country's turning point from labor exporter to labor importer. It is concluded that trade in goods complements capital movements but substitutes for labor movements, whereas trade in services and labor movements complement each other. The proposed analytical framework suggests that both international trade and migration may contribute to, but cannot lead to, a development process that brings about a migration transition in surplus labor economies.

Alburo, Florian A.
"Trade and Turning Points in Labor Migration." Vol. 3 (1), p. 49-80, 1994.
This article examines the relationship between trade and migration for the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand using three methods: (1) a comparison of graphic representations of trade and migration flows; (2)postulation and testing of a statistical relationship; and (3) a comparison of revealed comparative advantage for goods with that for services. In addition, trade and migration flows are presented for other Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The results reveal a correlation between turning points in trade and migration that supports the existing view that these flows are substitutes.

Fong, Pang Eng
"An Eclectic Approach to Turning Points in Migration." Vol. 3 (1), p. 81-91, 1994.
The electric approach to migration transition presented in this article emphasizes that a country's net migration position evolves as it develops, but in ways that reflect its initial economic and sociocultural conditions and subsequent policies and economic progress. Not one but several turning points exist, influenced by economic factors such as level of development, wage differentials, and trade and investment ties, as well as social and institutional factors such as a nation's homogeneity and its migration policies. To exemplify, the migration experiences of various Asia-Pacific countries are compared.

Skeldon, Ronald
"Turning Points in Labor Migration: The Case of Hong Kong." Vol. 3 (1), p. 93-118, 1994.
The Hong Kong experience of emigration and immigration does not fit neatly into models of migration transition. As a city-state with a small rural population, it has exhibited different developmental characteristics from the larger Asian newly industrialized economies. Geopolitical factors have also played a key role in "patterns" of migration, such as restrictive immigration policies in receiving countries. Also significant are individual considerations of political and economic risk, as evidenced by the current rise in the emigration of skilled and professional workers prior to the return of Hong Kong to China. The author concludes that, rather than a simple turning points in a complex sequence of change.

Watanabe, Susumu
"The Lewisian Turning Point in International Labor Migration: The Case of Japan." Vol. 3 (1), p. 119-147, 1994.
This article critically examines the Lewisian turning point in light of Japan's experience since the mid-1800s. Japan reached its Lewisian turning point around 1960. Contrary to the assumptions of the theory however, the findings for Japan indicate that political factors have been more determinative of the rate of migration than purely economic ones. Prior to its turning point in 1960, international relations, war and forced repatriation were the decisive factors. Recently, though the inflow of foreign workers to fill labor shortages has increased, so also has the outflow of Japanese to accompany direct foreign investment. DFI itself is more responsive to trade barriers, exchange rates and incentives offered by host governments than to differing wage levels or labor market conditions.

Park, Young-bum
"The Turning Point in International Labor Migration and Economic Development in Korea." Vol. 3 (1), p. 149-174, 1994.
Korea passed its turning point in international labor migration in the 1990s, largely due to government policies aimed at rapid economic development, industrial upgrading and coping with demographic change. From the 1960s to the 1980s, international migration was initiated and pursued by the government, bringing in remittances which improved the balance of payments and helped fund investment projects necessary for industrial upgrading. Rapid upgrading, coupled with demographic and social changes, have led to a need for unskilled foreign workers on a large scale. With a large influx of illegal workers, the Korean government now faces changing its policy to allow unskilled workers to enter the country.

Vasuprasat, Pracha
"Turning Points in International Labor Migration: A Case Study of Thailand." Vol. 3 (1), p. 175-202, 1994.
This article describes the dynamics of the structural transformation of the Thai economy, labor migration and direct foreign investment and proposes an econometric model to explain the migration phenomenon. Though migration shifts have been significantly influenced by political factors such as the Gulf crisis and tensions with Saudi Arabia, economic factors such as the Thai government's liberalization of markets and the expansion of trade and direct foreign investment have contributed to changes in labor market needs. The economic conditions for a shift from net exporter to net importer of labor are posited in the model. The empirical results reveal a turning point in labor migration from Thailand and also confirm the contribution of commodity export in place of labor export in creating employment and income.