In The News

A World of People on the Move

Antonio Guterres December 3, 2007
No community or country can control the human urge to improve one’s situation. The 21st century will become the century of migration, suggests Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner of Refugees. People have long had many reasons for migrating from a birthplace to another part of the world – and the century will undoubtedly deliver more: work opportunities, war, climate change, natural disasters....

Cosmopolitan Masala: Diversity Enriches Us All

Philippe Legrain November 16, 2007
There is growing opposition in many countries to immigration, viewed by some as costing government treasuries and diluting national cultures. Philippe Legrain, a British economist and former adviser to the director-general of the World Trade Organization, argues that productivity flourishes in culturally diverse cities and that people are willing to pay to live and work in such fertile...

Exploiting Thailand’s Burmese Refugees

Jürgen Kremb November 12, 2007
The recent pro-democracy protests in Myanmar’s major cities overshadow the ongoing civil war raging near the border. Forcible conscription and the devastation of war have prompted an influx of refugees into neighboring Thailand. These illegal immigrants face formidable challenges, including corrupt police, unemployment and organized crime. Because of their illegal status, they cannot secure work...

Falling Dollar, Inflation Feed Dubai Strife

Chip Cummins November 5, 2007
The countries of the Persian Gulf have long been destinations for migrants looking to take advantage of relatively high-paying construction jobs in these economically booming states. Of late, however, foreign workers find it less cost-effective to continue working in places like Dubai, where the local currency is linked to the falling dollar. This, in conjunction with inflation in the housing...

Globalization a Mixed Bag: Patten

Amit Baruah November 5, 2007
Globalization does not help every individual or country, but it is by no means a conspiracy by the rich against the poor, said Chris Patten, chancellor of Oxford University and former British governor of Hong Kong, during a lecture in India. Evidence suggests that trade and economic growth have ended poverty for millions of people. World labor markets, especially for skilled workers, are highly...

Dare to Compare?

Kathy Tzilivakis November 2, 2007
The nations of Europe offer a mixed bag when it comes to welcoming immigrants, according to a study from the British Council and the Migration Policy Group, a Brussels-based think tank, partially funded by the European Commission. The Migrant Integration Policy Index assesses countries based on labor-market access, family reunification, long-term residence, political participation, access to...

US Immigration Policy Fritters Away Higher-Education Benefits

Hassan Siddiq, Susan Froetschel October 31, 2007
A halfhearted embrace of globalization prevents the US from reaping full benefits of the students who attend its universities, allowing them to slip away to other countries. American universities attract some of the best students, enriching the talent pool and filling coffers, but a narrow-minded immigration policy squanders the benefits. Some analysts go as far as to suggest that science and...