In The News

Teochews Can Take Pride in Successes

Lee Hsien Loong November 24, 2003
Since at least the 1800s, Chinese immigrants speaking the Teochew dialect have moved to many regions of Southeast Asia in search of a better life. Many of them have become the most successful groups in their adopted countries, says Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Sometimes they seem "more than proportionately represented" in top-notch positions such as the Thai...

After the Crossing, Danger to Migrants Isn't Over

Charlie LeDuff November 11, 2003
A wave of violence has hit the Southwest US that is reminiscent of the drug wars of years past. But the victims now are illegal immigrants, caught in the crossfire of competing gangs, not members of rival drug cartels. Because of increased security after September 11, the price demanded for human smuggling across the US-Mexico border has increased drastically, rendering such operations almost...

The Future of Migration - Part Two

Lant Pritchett November 9, 2003
In Part II of a two-part series on the future of migration, economist Lant Pritchett argues that the forces building up to another wave of mass migration face opposition in the form of ideas. Simply put, he says, "the primary reason there is not more migration is that the citizens of the industrialized world don't want it." People in the industrialized world - the main...

The Future of Migration - Part One

Lant Pritchett November 5, 2003
Immigration is an issue that elicits heated views from all sides of the political and economic spectrum. In the 21st century, how might we expect our lives and societies to be affected by changes in immigration? In Part One of a two-part series, economist Lant Pritchett argues that there are five irresistible forces setting the world up for a new wave of mass migration. Topping the list are...

Migration Affects National Cultures

Jürgen Kaube October 31, 2003
Germany has only just begun to understand the implications of the increasing presence of migrant workers, says this article in a Germany weekly. Whether Muslim women should be allowed to wear head scarves in class is only a small part of the bigger questions of national identity, assimilation, and economic need. "By repeatedly expressing our unease about the mixed implications of...

Compulsory Insurance Scheme for Migrant Sri Lankan Workers in United Arab Emirates

Meraj Rizvi October 30, 2003
There will soon be a new mandatory insurance scheme for Sri Lankan migrant laborers working in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states. As mandated by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, all prospective employers of Sri Lankans must now obtain an insurance policy for employees prior to submission of the worker's contract to the hiring agency. The Sri Lankan...

Immigrant Voters' Split Ticket

Phuong Ly October 30, 2003
As American political candidates court growing numbers of Asian and Latino immigrants, so too are political contenders in overseas elections. Candidates from El Salvador and Taiwan have made certain US cities campaign stops this year. Experts say the phenomenon is occurring for both monetary and political reasons. In addition to campaign contributions, countries such as El Salvador receive more...