South-North Migration

Abstract

The objectives set for this conference were to assess current characteristics of South-North migration; to discuss possible future developments in the light of economic and other push factors in developing countries; and to evaluate future labor demand in developed countries and consider demo? graphic trends in both developed and developing countries. Concerning the first objective, information provided by the Population Division of the United Nations showed that permanent migration to the so-called traditional receiver countries (the United States, Canada and Australia) is now dominated by persons from developing countries. For example, over 85 percent of immigrants to the United States between 1985 and 1989 were from Less Developed Countries (LDCs). European receiving countries have also increased significantly the proportion of immigrants that they admit from developing countries, the Federal Republic of Ger? many having admitted a number almost equal to the number of persons from developed countries. Concerning the third objective, the authors of the paper on South-North migration with special reference to Europe showed that LDCs have the capacity to create, in only twenty years, an additional number of new jobs much greater than the 1990 stock of the entire developed world. Indeed, the proportion of persons living in developing countries in the early twentyfirst century will be much higher than it is today. Subreplacement fertility characterizes developed countries, whereas many developing countries have a long way to go through demographic transition. These orders of magnitude set the agenda for addressing what turned out to be the most difficult, but also the most rewarding, second objective: future developments in South-North migration in the light of economic and other