Migration and remittances in island microstates: A comparative perspectiveon the South Pacific and the Caribbean

For several decades there has been extensive migration from the small islan d states of the South Pacific and the eastern Caribbean to metropolitan cou ntries, resulting in absolute population decline in some states and new soc ial, economic and political relationships between these island regions and distant worlds. Early research on the consequences for island development o f return migration and remittances dwelt upon the unproductive nature of ex penditures and the various problems return migration and remittances cause. Questioning this view, a new conceptualization of the influences of migrat ion, circulation and remittances on recipient families, communities and soc ieties in the island states of the South Pacific and the Caribbean is prese nted. Regional similarities and differences are recognized, yet commonaliti es of island microstates' experiences emerge. Remittances are a very signif icant private transfer of capital and return migrants represent people endo wed with human capital, capable of enriching the social and cultural capita l stocks of their island communities. In both insular regions, the consolid ation of transnational linkages emphasizes the significance of diaspora rel ations for migrant households at home and abroad and offers some prospects for sustainable development, beyond those offered solely by domestic econom ic opportunities.