Integration and Development: Need for Dialogue

The paper argues that a critical but overlooked link exists between the integration of migrants in settlement countries and their ability to contribute to development in their countries of origin. It identifies eight mechanisms of diaspora contribution—including remittances, entrepreneurship, and political activism—and demonstrates that these are not a zero-sum game with integration; rather, strong integration often supports stronger transnational engagement. The authors call for greater policy coherence and dialogue between the fields of integration, development, and migration management to avoid fragmented or contradictory policies that may hinder these contributions.

• Integration and transnational development engagements are not a zero-sum game; evidence suggests that engagement in a country of origin does not reduce attachment to the country of settlement, and strong integration can actually correspond with strong transnational engagement.
• Remittances serve multiple development roles, including providing supplementary household income, enabling human capital investments in health and education, acting as insurance mechanisms, and boosting national foreign exchange reserves.
• The development impact of remittances is significantly influenced by structural factors, such as good governance and transfer costs; the UN's Sustainable Development Goals target a global average remittance transfer cost of 3%.
• Diaspora entrepreneurship and investment can create jobs and introduce new services, often combining professional expertise from the settlement country with local knowledge, though its success depends on the structural conditions and governance of the origin country.
• Return migration can inject human and financial capital into countries of origin, but its effect varies; voluntary returns can reduce local crime rates, while forced deportations, such as gang members from the US to Central America, can drive organized crime.
• In Norway, a pilot project (Pilot Project Pakistan) from 2008-2010 showed that long-term commitment is essential for diaspora-development success, but the project was discontinued, potentially damaging trust between diaspora organizations and government actors.
• There is a persistent lack of policy coherence between integration, development, and migration management, which can lead to contradictory outcomes, such as return policies that prioritize removal over the legal security necessary for meaningful investment.

APA

Carling, J., Erdal, M. B., Tjønn, M. H., & Horst, C. (n.d.). Integration and Development: Need for Dialogue. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/a7f5bac7-bcb8-4329-a892-f98aa4958175/Erdal Carling Horst and Tjonn - Integration and Development Need for Dialogue - PRIO Paper 2020.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Carling, Jørgen, Marta Bivand Erdal, Mathias Hatleskog Tjønn, and Cindy Horst. Integration and Development: Need for Dialogue. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/a7f5bac7-bcb8-4329-a892-f98aa4958175/Erdal Carling Horst and Tjonn - Integration and Development Need for Dialogue - PRIO Paper 2020.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Carling |first1=Jørgen |last2=Erdal |first2=Marta Bivand |last3=Tjønn |first3=Mathias Hatleskog |last4=Horst |first4=Cindy |title=Integration and Development: Need for Dialogue |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/a7f5bac7-bcb8-4329-a892-f98aa4958175/Erdal Carling Horst and Tjonn - Integration and Development Need for Dialogue - PRIO Paper 2020.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{carlingndintegration, author = {Carling, Jørgen and Erdal, Marta Bivand and Tjønn, Mathias Hatleskog and Horst, Cindy}, title = {{Integration and Development: Need for Dialogue}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/a7f5bac7-bcb8-4329-a892-f98aa4958175/Erdal Carling Horst and Tjonn - Integration and Development Need for Dialogue - PRIO Paper 2020.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }