Net migration as a target for migration policies: a review and appraisal of the UK experience

Cangiano, Alessio (2016) Net migration as a target for migration policies: a review and appraisal of the UK experience. International Migration, 54 (2). pp. 18-33. ISSN 0020-7985

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Abstract

The impact of migration on population growth has become a ubiquitous argument in UK immigration debates, leading to the introduction of immigration restrictions to reduce net migration and prevent the UK population from reaching 70 million. Taking the UK as a case study, this article assesses the rationale for setting a national net migration target as a pivotal point for migration policies and the feasibility of limiting net migration using immigration controls. A framework for analysing the effects of migration policies on net migration is proposed and applied to UK official migration data. The results show that, due to various policy constraints,
competing objectives and unintended feedbacks, it is neither optimal nor entirely feasible to prioritize a reduction of net migration as a target for migration policies. Nevertheless, factoring net migration into the migration policy debate provides useful insights on the long-term implications of migration policies in the context of broader demographic changes.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
Divisions:	Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) > School of Economics
Depositing User:	Alessio Cangiano
Date Deposited:	26 Jun 2016 23:50
Last Modified:	26 Jun 2016 23:52
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/8993

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