Failing to tackle the causes of immigration

SOMETIMES countries throw money at problems rather than taking hard decisions and changing their policies.

The International Organisation on Migration has just published a study that shows up this very clearly. Called "Bordering on Control" it looked at the money five industrial countries spend on keeping out immigrants.

The countries are among the world's richest Germany, Britain, Netherlands, Canada and the US. Their research discovered that between them these five spend about €16 billion a year in enforcing immigration laws and caring for asylum seekers.

To give this figure some context these same countries spend about a third or just over €5 billion on official Development Assistance to the kinds of places from which these immigrants come.

The study, conducted by Philip Martin of the University of California at Davis, asks if it would not make more economic sense and save these countries money if they formed special relationships with the countries from which most of their immigrants were coming.

It suggests that they could encourage trade, make investments and increase aid to these countries from which people are fleeing mostly because of poverty, lack of jobs and a future.

Dr Martin looked at the cost-effectiveness of the law enforcement approach to migration management including increased spending on border controls.

He concluded, the fortress approach has not been particularly efficient, or an effective way to manage migration into most western democracies.