Technological Change and Global Migration Futures

How will future technological change affect the volume, composition and direction of global migration, particularly within and from the developing world? Although it is often argued that technological advancements have spurred migration, the actual impact of technological changes on migration is much more ambiguous, as technology also facilitates trade, off-shoring, distance working, and commuting, which may have a migration-reducing effect. To explore these issues, this panel uses an approach that was developed through the International Migration Institute’s Global Migration Futures project to examine the impact of technological change on future migration as well as the implications of future changes in global migration trends and patterns on technological change. It will broadly define technology to include information and communication technologies, production systems and labor mechanization, and transport and border regulation technologies.

Piyasiri Wickramasekara; former Senior Specialist on Migration and Employment, International Labour Organization

Carlos Vargas-Silva; Senior Researcher, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society

Mary Harper; Africa Editor, BBC World Service