October 2013 African Migration Robert E.B. Lucas Economics Department, Boston University, 270 Bay State Road, Boston MA 02215, USA
[email protected] Forthcoming in The Handbook on the Economics of International Migration, edited by Barry R. Chiswick and Paul W. Miller, to be published by Elsevier. For taking the time to read this chapter, for their comments, suggestions and corrections I am most grateful to Kehinde Ajayi, John Harris, Tim Hatton, Karen Jacobsen, Hayley Lucas and Fleur Wouterse. Abstract Factors shaping international migration, over the last half century, from and into the countries and territories of Sub-Saharan and North Africa, as well as the economic and some social implications of those movements, are examined. Existing analyses of these issues are critically reviewed, including topics particularly pertinent to the African context and evidence on cross- cutting themes studied in the African context. The most recent data available on each aspect are summarized and fresh results, based on these data, are presented on several topics. JEL codes: F22 - International Migration F24 – Remittances O55 - Africa J11 - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts O15 - Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration H56 - National Security and War Contents 1. Introducing the setting. 1.1. The colonial heritage. 1.2. Porous borders and the influence of geography. 1.3. Economic growth and poverty. 1.4. Demographic transition. 1.5. Conflict and refugees. 1.6. A challenging setting. 2. The migration policy framework. 2.1. Immigration policies of the EU member countries: implications for Africans. 2.1.1. Schengen visas, residence permits and processing asylum seekers.