Economic Effects of Expatriates and Migrants on Sending Countries: A Case-Study of Serbia
Economic Effects of Expatriates and Migrants on Sending Countries: A Case-Study of Serbia

Summary/Abstract: Abstract. Migrant diasporas accumulate human, financial, and social capital that can spur development back in their homeland. Serbian policies could better promote the associated forms of capital accumulation that the current migrant diasporas offer through partnerships covering many types of joint actions. These include, in particular, supporting existing initiatives, developing collaboration between Serbia and host countries, offering contract alliances at the local level with regions and municipalities, as well as collaborating with private actors such as banks, public enterprises, chambers of commerce and business services. This paper discusses the Serbian migrant population and its current socio-economic characteristics, as well as how this segment of the population on the move could better foster Serbian economic development. The paper also considers four main channels through which migration generates effects on the home country. Considered are: domestic capacity, remittance flows, social networks, and return migration. This essay suggests an important area for future research that would examine how to transition from brain drain to brain gain and to find answers regarding how to mobilize Serbia’s skilled diaspora.

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