Economic development and international migration in comparative perspective

Development and migration are related because the processes of capital substitution, enclosure, and market penetration destroy the foundations of the peasant economy and create a pool of displaced persons who seek better opportunities elsewhere. Given the cyclical nature of economic growth, the persistence of international wage differentials, and the decline of transport costs, some movement abroad is inevitable. The extent of emigration is determined by the degree of economic integration between countries, but once begun, international migration tends to feed on itself and grow rapidly. -from Author