Handbook on Migration and Social Policy

Book excerpt: In this comprehensive Handbook, an interdisciplinary team of distinguished scholars from the social sciences explores the connections between migration and social policy. They test conflicting claims as to the positive and negative effects of different types of migration against the experience of countries in Europe, North America, Australasia, the Middle East and South Asia, assessing arguments as to migration’s impact on the financial, social and political stability and sustainability of social programs. The volume reflects the authors’ curiosity about the controversy over the connection between social and cultural diversity and popular support for the welfare state. Providing timely and original chapters which both critique the existing literature as well as build on and advance theoretical understanding, the authors focus on the formal settlement and integration polices created for migrants as well as corollary state policies affecting migrants and migration. A clutch of chapters investigates the linkage between migration and trade theory, foreign direct investment, globalization, public opinion, public education and welfare programs. Chapters then deal with leading receiving states as well as India and the authors examine the regulation of migration at the subnational, national, regional and global levels. The topic of migration and security is also covered. This compelling and exhaustive review of existing scholarship and state-of -the-art original empirical analysis is essential reading for graduates and academics researching the field.