Social Development and Poverty

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.

Human Mobility and Migration

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.

Passengers from Kunming to Lijiang arrives at Dali Railway Station.

Passengers from Kunming to Lijiang arrives at Dali Railway Station.

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.

Related resources

  • 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.

    01 Jul 2011 | Consultants' ReportsIntegrating Human Trafficking and Safe Migration Concerns for Women and Children into Regional Cooperation - Greater Mekong Sub-region Consultants' Reports | 01 Jul 2011

    Integrating Human Trafficking and Safe Migration Concerns for Women and Children into Regional Cooperation - Greater Mekong Sub-region

    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.

  • Re-Thinking Trafficking Prevention: A Guide to Applying Behavior Theory

    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.

    01 Nov 2011 | ReportsRe-Thinking Trafficking Prevention: A Guide to Applying Behavior Theory Reports | 01 Nov 2011

    Re-Thinking Trafficking Prevention: A Guide to Applying Behavior Theory

    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.

  • Rural-Urban Migration and Employment Quality: A Case Study from Thailand

    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.

    01 Apr 2012 | Papers and BriefsRural-Urban Migration and Employment Quality: A Case Study from Thailand Papers and Briefs | 01 Apr 2012

    Rural-Urban Migration and Employment Quality: A Case Study from Thailand

    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.

  • Global Crisis, Remittances, and Poverty in Asia

    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.

    01 May 2012 | BooksGlobal Crisis, Remittances, and Poverty in Asia Books | 01 May 2012

    Global Crisis, Remittances, and Poverty in Asia

    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.

  • Worker Migration and Remittances in South Asia

    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.

    01 May 2012 | Papers and BriefsWorker Migration and Remittances in South Asia Papers and Briefs | 01 May 2012

    Worker Migration and Remittances in South Asia

    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.

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Wendy Walker

Director, Human and Social Development

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Yukiko Ito

Principal Social Development Specialist

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Meredith Wyse

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Oleksiy Ivaschenko

Senior Social Protection and Jobs Specialist

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