The economics of return migration

This chapter surveys the economic literature on return migration. It summarises the theoretical determinants of return migration and the empirical evidence on the drivers of return. It then reviews the main implications of return migration. It also discusses the empirical challenges of measuring the determinants and consequences of return. This chapter underscores how the economic literature is focused on migrants who return of their own accord and therefore studies the individual decision to stay overseas or return home and its implications on the migrant and the country of origin. Overall, the evidence highlights the importance of return migration in entrepreneurship, human capital accumulation, the diffusion of knowledge and the transfer of norms to the country of origin.