Migration: A Solution, Not A Problem

By Michele Klein Solomon It is common knowledge that social, political, economic and environmental challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean push people to migrate. However, it is less well known that the potential of migration itself can serve to address these same challenges collectively and constructively. Migration should not be seen as a problem, nor as a simple movement of people: Migration is a powerful force that can drive the development of societies and economies, and Central America, North America and Caribbean is proof of it. Migration is an accelerator of inclusive growth and sustainable development, enriching societies through human, socio-economic and cultural capacities. When it comes to economic growth, data shows that in the Latin American and Caribbean region, countries that have received the largest migration flows would increase by 0.10 to 0.25 per cent per year of GDP between 2017 and 2030. A study in 2020 by the International Monetary Fund supports this prediction, showing that every additional 1% of immigration has the potential to boost GDP growth by 2% in destination countries. Migrant remittances are a lifeline for their families and communities. According to the World Bank, remittances considerably exceed official development aid, and are at...