International migration and workers remittances have, of late, become a significant economic and social phenomena affecting the fortunes of millions of families in the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Yet, the measurements and methods of analysis of their impact on the individuals, families, economy, and society have not rec

International migration and workers' remittances have, of late, become a significant economic and social phenomena affecting the fortunes of millions of families in the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Yet, the measurements and methods of analysis of their impact on the individuals, families, economy, and society have not received the attention they deserve. A first-of-its-kind study of international migration, based on large-scale surveys across a span of 15 years of fieldwork, this book: includes methods of conducting field surveys, estimating migration, and analysing migration trends, remittances, selectivity, and differentials; assesses other demographic, socio-economic phenomenon, such as education, employment and women's status; provides a methodology to evaluate remittances and their influence on the economy; and examines social costs of migration on those left behind - parents, wives and children - a neglected area in the field of migration. This handbook will be invaluable to scholars and students of migration studies, demography, development studies and sociology as well as policy-makers, administrators, academics, and non-governmental organisations in the field.

The book constitutes an attempt to construct a profile of migrants from Kerala to the Gulf region, on the basis of an extensive of survey of return emigrants and their households. The purpose of this study was to understand the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the emigrants at the various stages of emigration process -- prior to emigration, during stay abroad and after return to Kerala. Another important aspect which is discussed is the costs and returns of emigration, the working and living conditions of emigrants in the destination region, the pattern of utilisation of remittances back home and the problems of rehabilitation that the emigrants encounter after return. While emigration in large numbers has assuaged the pain of massive unemployment in Kerala to a significant extent and raised the income levels of thousands of emigrants households by way of remittances, these processes have not led to a developmental take-off of the Kerala economy. While it is the duty of the government to help the returned emigrants whose emigration ended up in disaster and economic ruin (who constitute about one-fifth of the returned emigrants), the government may not find it justifiable to introduce social welfare programmes for the rest of them. However, the government may think of organising welfare schemes and forming co-operatives of returned emigrants for undertaking projects, which they will be in a position to fulfil with discipline and dedication.