Pacific possible – labour mobility: The ten billion dollar prize

By Richard Curtain, Matthew Dornan, Jesse Doyle and Stephen Howes

July 2016

This report looks at the issue of Pacific labour mobility from both sides of the equation. It seeks to understand the perspectives and concerns of both sending and receiving countries, and it proposes reforms for both sets of countries. The report places particular emphasis on providing opportunities for low-skilled and medium-skilled migration. A broad range of reforms is proposed, but is particularly focused on providing labour mobility opportunities for those beyond the elite of sending countries to maximise the welfare gains of migration, and to reduce the risk of brain drain. The report forms part of the World Bank’s Pacific Possible series.

» download four-page summary

Curtain, R., Dornan, M., Doyle, J. & Howes, S. 2016, ‘Pacific possible – labour mobility: The ten billion dollar prize’, Report, Development Policy Centre, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University.

Karen Downing

Karen Downing is Research Communications Coordinator at the Development Policy Centre.