New Ways for Migration Control : The possibilities and need for sustainable migration policies
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2014-04
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en
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Abstract
Refugee movements and migration are nothing new. They have historical roots. The demand for
skills and labour and the search for jobs and opportunities has resulted in a flow of people across
many parts of the world. In order to implement more orderly and just migration regimes, a shift
towards more planned and transparent policies is needed.
In the literature we find that there is tension between different principles on which migration
policies should be based and can be justified. While well-managed migration may foster progress and
welfare in origin- as well as destination countries, its mismanagement may put social cohesion,
security and sovereignty at risk. Using both moral and practical arguments we find, on the one hand
that it is said that migration hurts the political, cultural and economic stability of a society and
migration policies therefore should be restrictive. On the other hand we find statements that these
arguments are not valid enough to put restrictive policies in place and that they are even false, since
controlled migration can attribute to cultural and economic growth. Given the increasing reports
about demographic imbalances and skill shortages in Dutch society I wanted to contribute to this
debate, by first providing an overview of what is already known on this subject and secondly provide
a constructive evidence-based addition to the debate about the restrictiveness of migration policies
in a mutually beneficial way. In an ideal system for migration management all interests are taken into
account and moral and practical considerations are weighed. Morally, migration should be restricted
if there are valid concerns about the most vulnerable in society. Practically, it should be seeking to be
beneficial for all agents in the field of migration.
The case study shows that the demographic and economic need for migration is pressing and
that current migration policies are not effective enough to address these problems. This is mainly
because there is too much focus on protecting the receiving society for any possible negative effect
of migration. Societal security and welfare migration are the biggest concern and an emphasis is
visible in migration policies in addressing these concerns. At the same time people fear a decline in
welfare because of economic downturn and a greying population. There is a discrepancy about what
society wants and what society needs. We see that immigration policy is not just about making
commitments about society but also about making commitments for society. A start towards a more
inviting migration policy is made in The Netherlands by the introduction of the Modern Migration
Policy Act. We see that migration that is market-driven rather than politic-driven can be beneficial for
all actors in the field of migration and there is a tendency to move in this direction.
I conclude that we are seeing a shift in migration policy. The motive of migration is becoming
more important than origin. Freedom of movement is an important part of migration policy, but only
for the economic viable. Decentralising (parts of) the migration policy is possibly the best way to face
future societal issues. This is because the business sector can make a strong case for migration, and
would benefit from even more unrestricted migration. A private-public partnership seems to be a
viable option for The Netherlands to establish a migration policy with more attention for the
freedom of movement without arousing the society’s fear about security or welfare migration. The
foundation is already laid down in the MMPA. At the same time the private sector needs the public
sector to implement more flexible migration procedures and give them more responsibilities in the
process, giving them more freedom to pick and choose when it comes to employers.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen