Working Paper 6-2009: Circular Migration and Employment in Southern Africa

This paper proposes that non-temporary circular migration creates and sustains 'circular migration flows', which are the outcome of the continuous interaction between sending and receiving countries that is created and sustained by migration and by transnational networks. Circular migration generates both pecuniary and non-pecuniary flows which are conducive to enterprise creation and development.  A positive migratory experience will see an individual increasing his or her financial, human and social capital, and this facilitates entrepreneurial activities in both home and host countries, including fostering trade linkages between sending and receiving countries. Hence this paradigm helps us consider how migration can stimulate employment. This paper considers this premise with reference to the Southern African sub-region.