Return Migration and Development: Evidence from India’s Skilled Professionals

This chapter examines the contribution that skilled Indian return migrants make to the development of India, placing specific focus on the transfer of knowledge, skills and financial resources. The chapter offers convincing evidence to show that even though the decision ‘to return or not to return’ in contemporary migratory patterns falls largely within the domain of the employer and the immigration laws of the destination countries, opportunity structures available in India also have a crucial role to play. Besides contributing to personal development and living standards, overseas exposure has significant implications for the professions and organisations of migrants. Return migrants, especially academics and medical practitioners, see overseas exposure as an important component of image makeover in developing societies like India. Finally, the chapter argues that return migration could become an important lever for development, provided that the knowledge, skills and expertise gained abroad are channelled into the production process and suitable institutional infrastructure is created to support the endeavours of returnees.