ADB’s central mission is working to reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific and to ensure the benefits of economic growth and social development are equitably spread.
The Asia and the Pacific region is home to a growing number of migrants moving from their communities to others in the same country or to other countries. Migration can be a powerful contributor to economic and social development. At the same time, migration can add to overcrowding in cities, strain social cohesion in migrant receiving areas, and be tied up with human trafficking.
Greater connectivity between and among countries has promoted human mobility within the region. Migrants can bring needed labor skills, trading networks, and an entrepreneurial spirit to destination communities. Migrants also send remittances to their places of origin, providing financial resources that can reduce poverty and be used for productive purposes. ADB supports its developing member countries to facilitate human mobility while maximizing its benefits.
Consultant’s reports describe activities by a consultant or group of consultants related to preparing a technical assistance project.
This document dated July 2011 is provided for the ADB regional project 40320-012.
Integrating Human Trafficking and Safe Migration Concerns for Women and Children into Regional Cooperation - Greater Mekong Sub-regionConsultant’s reports describe activities by a consultant or group of consultants related to preparing a technical assistance project.
This document dated July 2011 is provided for the ADB regional project 40320-012.
Trafficking prevention, vulnerability reduction, and strengthened monitoring, evaluation, and analysis of programmes are all mandated under the 3rd The Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT) Sub-regional Plan of Action (COMMIT SPA III, 2011-2013) as well as the 2004 COMMIT Memorandum of Understanding. This Guide aims to support COMMIT Taskforces and partners in improving the effectiveness of trafficking prevention programmes though an analytical approach centred around the planning and measurement of behaviour change.
Re-Thinking Trafficking Prevention: A Guide to Applying Behavior TheoryTrafficking prevention, vulnerability reduction, and strengthened monitoring, evaluation, and analysis of programmes are all mandated under the 3rd The Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT) Sub-regional Plan of Action (COMMIT SPA III, 2011-2013) as well as the 2004 COMMIT Memorandum of Understanding. This Guide aims to support COMMIT Taskforces and partners in improving the effectiveness of trafficking prevention programmes though an analytical approach centred around the planning and measurement of behaviour change.
This study uses a panel database of rural households in Thailand collected from 2008–2010 to investigate the effects of rural–urban migration on economic development. One finding is that social protection policies for the rural poor in Thailand may be less effective for urban migrants. Another is that while migration increases income growth among rural households, it is less effective in reducing inequality and relative poverty in rural areas.
Rural-Urban Migration and Employment Quality: A Case Study from ThailandThis study uses a panel database of rural households in Thailand collected from 2008–2010 to investigate the effects of rural–urban migration on economic development. One finding is that social protection policies for the rural poor in Thailand may be less effective for urban migrants. Another is that while migration increases income growth among rural households, it is less effective in reducing inequality and relative poverty in rural areas.
This publication presents a comprehensive discussion on the impact of the global financial crisis (2008–2009) on certain Asian economies at different levels of analysis—showcasing cross-country regression, computable general equilibrium modeling, and microeconometric modeling for Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. Using different measures of remittances, cross-country regression analyses suggest that a 10% increase in remittances leads to a 3%–4% rise in real gross domestic product per capita. At the same time, the analyses show that remittances exert a negative impact on aggregate poverty. Moreover, these money transfers from abroad exert important impacts on the macroeconomy that include improving external current accounts, alleviating debt burdens, appreciation of domestic currencies, and moderating inflation.
Global Crisis, Remittances, and Poverty in AsiaThis publication presents a comprehensive discussion on the impact of the global financial crisis (2008–2009) on certain Asian economies at different levels of analysis—showcasing cross-country regression, computable general equilibrium modeling, and microeconometric modeling for Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. Using different measures of remittances, cross-country regression analyses suggest that a 10% increase in remittances leads to a 3%–4% rise in real gross domestic product per capita. At the same time, the analyses show that remittances exert a negative impact on aggregate poverty. Moreover, these money transfers from abroad exert important impacts on the macroeconomy that include improving external current accounts, alleviating debt burdens, appreciation of domestic currencies, and moderating inflation.
Every year South Asian countries send out a significant number of migrant workers, resulting in remittances becoming an important source of funds for economic development. However, despite its huge potential to contribute to economic growth, South Asian countries have not yet fully maximized benefits from remittances because of their limited financial sector development and financial inclusion, and because a substantial portion of remittances to the region are channeled informally. Concerted efforts by the governments, regulators, and financial sectors are required in addressing legal and policy constraints, improving formal financial systems, and enhancing customer education to expand formal remittance markets and achieve financial inclusion.
Worker Migration and Remittances in South AsiaEvery year South Asian countries send out a significant number of migrant workers, resulting in remittances becoming an important source of funds for economic development. However, despite its huge potential to contribute to economic growth, South Asian countries have not yet fully maximized benefits from remittances because of their limited financial sector development and financial inclusion, and because a substantial portion of remittances to the region are channeled informally. Concerted efforts by the governments, regulators, and financial sectors are required in addressing legal and policy constraints, improving formal financial systems, and enhancing customer education to expand formal remittance markets and achieve financial inclusion.
The biggest driver of migration flows in Asia is the search for greater job opportunities and better income.
Rapid aging in Asia and the Pacific has put the region at the forefront of one of the most important global demographic trends.
The graduation approach is an innovative, holistic and proven approach to addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequality, Strategy 2030's first operational priority.
Reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific, even in countries with relatively high per capita income, remains an unfinished agenda. Despite major progress, the region was home to 326 million people living in extreme poverty (or below the $1.90/day poverty line) in 2013.
Social protection is set of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets, diminishing people’s exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and interruption/loss of income.