Connecting Continents: Migration Economics and Remittance Modeling Training Course

Introduction

Global migration has emerged as a defining phenomenon of the 21st century, profoundly shaping demographic, social, and economic landscapes in both origin and destination countries. Beyond the human stories, migration involves intricate economic decisions by individuals and households, influencing labor markets, trade patterns, and crucially, the flow of remittances. These financial transfers from migrants to their home countries have surpassed foreign direct investment and official development assistance in many regions, making their understanding and effective modeling essential for policymakers and development practitioners.

This intensive training course is meticulously designed to equip participants with a comprehensive and practical understanding of migration economics and the methodologies for modeling remittances. From dissecting the theoretical frameworks that explain migration decisions and their macro- and micro-economic impacts to mastering advanced econometric techniques for analyzing remittance flows and their development outcomes, you will gain the expertise to rigorously assess migration dynamics. This empowers you to contribute to evidence-based migration policies, leverage remittances for development, and navigate the complex global mobility agenda.

Target Audience

  • Economists and researchers specializing in migration, labor, and development.
  • Policymakers and government officials in migration, labor, and finance ministries.
  • Professionals in international organizations (e.g., World Bank, IOM, ILO, UN agencies) dealing with migration and remittances.
  • Development practitioners and program managers in NGOs focused on migration and poverty reduction.
  • Financial sector professionals interested in remittance services and financial inclusion.
  • Academics and graduate students (Master's and PhD) in economics, demography, international relations, or development studies.
  • Data scientists and quantitative analysts working with migration or financial flow data.
  • Anyone involved in designing, monitoring, or evaluating migration and remittance-related programs.

Duration: 10 days

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this training course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the core economic theories explaining migration decisions at individual, household, and macro levels.
  • Grasp the drivers and patterns of international and internal migration flows.
  • Analyze the economic impacts of migration on both origin and destination countries (labor markets, growth, welfare).
  • Comprehend the determinants and mechanisms of remittance flows, both formal and informal.
  • Evaluate the micro and macro-economic effects of remittances on poverty, inequality, and development.
  • Develop practical skills in modeling migration and remittance data using econometric techniques.
  • Navigate the policy challenges and opportunities related to migration and remittance management.
  • Formulate evidence-based recommendations for migration governance and remittance facilitation policies.

Course Content

  1. Introduction to Migration Economics: Theories and Concepts
  • Defining migration: types (internal, international, voluntary, forced), stocks, and flows
  • Neoclassical economic models of migration: wage differentials, human capital
  • New Economics of Labor Migration (NELM): household decisions, risk diversification, incomplete markets
  • Network theory of migration: social capital and cumulative causation
  • Dual labor market theory and segmented labor markets
  • Push and pull factors of migration
  1. Drivers and Patterns of Global Migration
  • Demographic factors and migration pressures (population growth, aging societies)
  • Economic factors: income disparities, unemployment, demand for labor
  • Social factors: family reunification, education, social networks
  • Political and environmental factors: conflict, violence, climate change, disasters
  • Major migration corridors and regional migration trends
  • Data sources for migration studies: censuses, surveys, administrative data, bilateral matrices
  1. Economic Impacts of Migration on Origin Countries
  • Impact on labor markets: labor supply, wages, skill composition, brain drain/gain
  • Impact on economic growth and human capital formation
  • Effects on poverty and inequality: direct income effects, indirect effects via investment
  • Social and demographic impacts: family structures, gender roles, urbanization
  • Fiscal impacts: tax revenues, public services
  • Return migration and its development potential
  1. Economic Impacts of Migration on Destination Countries
  • Impact on labor markets: wages of native workers, employment, sectoral distribution
  • Contributions to economic growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship
  • Fiscal impacts: taxes paid vs. public services consumed by migrants
  • Social integration, cultural diversity, and public opinion towards migration
  • Welfare effects on native populations
  • Managing public services and infrastructure in response to migration
  1. Introduction to Remittances: Definitions and Trends
  • Defining remittances: personal transfers, worker's remittances, types (cash, in-kind)
  • Global trends and magnitude of remittance flows: comparison with ODA and FDI
  • Formal vs. informal remittance channels: costs, benefits, and risks
  • Data sources for remittance flows: balance of payments, household surveys
  • Macroeconomic significance of remittances for developing economies
  1. Determinants of Remittance Flows: Micro and Macro Perspectives
  • Microeconomic determinants: migrant characteristics (age, education, income, marital status), family characteristics, intention to return
  • Motives for remitting: altruism, exchange, investment, loan repayment, inheritance
  • Macroeconomic determinants: economic conditions in host and home countries, exchange rates, remittance costs
  • Role of financial development and technology in influencing remittance flows
  • The "migration hump" and remittance patterns over time
  1. Microeconometric Models for Remittance Analysis
  • Data challenges in remittance modeling: measurement error, sample selection
  • Econometric models for determinants of remitting (e.g., Probit/Logit for decision to remit, OLS for amount remitted)
  • Addressing endogeneity in remittance analysis
  • Panel data approaches for tracking remittance behavior over time
  • Decomposing remittance impacts on household welfare
  1. Macroeconomic Modeling of Remittance Impacts
  • Remittances and economic growth: direct and indirect channels (investment, consumption)
  • Remittances and poverty reduction: evidence from household surveys
  • Remittances and inequality: urban-rural gaps, within-household distribution
  • Remittances and financial development: access to finance, savings, investment
  • Dutch Disease phenomenon and real exchange rate appreciation
  • Remittances and external debt sustainability
  1. Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for Migration and Remittances
  • Migration policies: labor migration programs, visa regimes, asylum policies
  • Remittance policies: reducing transfer costs, improving access to formal channels
  • Financial literacy and investment opportunities for remittance recipients
  • Diaspora engagement policies: harnessing human and financial capital
  • Regulatory frameworks for money transfer operators and financial service providers
  • Anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) in remittances
  1. Emerging Issues and Future Directions
  • Digitalization of remittances: mobile money, blockchain, FinTech innovations
  • Climate change and migration: environmental drivers, internal displacement, planned relocation
  • The impact of global crises (pandemics, economic downturns) on migration and remittances
  • Skills migration and circular migration initiatives
  • The nexus between migration, remittances, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Ethical considerations in migration policy and remittance regulation.

CERTIFICATION

  • Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

  • Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

  • Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com

For More Details call: +254-114-087-180

 

Connecting Continents: Migration Economics And Remittance Modeling Training Course in Kenya
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