Vertovec, Steven. "Circular Migration: the way forward in global policy?". Oxford: International Migration Institute, 2007.

Vertovec, Steven. Circular Migration: the way forward in global policy?. Oxford: International Migration Institute, 2007.

• Since the introduction of modern communications technology during the late 1980s, there has been both a massive increase in scholarly and government interest in international migration, particularly remittances from migrant workers, and an increased movement away from permanent migration and towards temporary or seasonal migration (1-3).
• Recognizing the reality that by the 1990s, most migrant workers were engaged in temporary or seasonal work and remitted large portions of their wages, international experts have recommended adjusting national policies in order to make these season or 'circular' migration easier and facilitate greater movement of personals and finances between destination and source countries (3).
• Proponents of circular migration, mainly international or intergovernmental bodies, have claimed that providing greater opportunities for the return of temporary migrant workers increases access to labour in the destination countries, increases remittances available for development in source countries, preventing illegal migration, limiting permanent migration or settlement, and ensuring access to a skilled and trusted pool of labour (5).
• Circular migration is most likely among young unmarried men, with unskilled men being less concerned about whether they migrate legally or illegally. Circular migrants are generally skilled in finding employment in destination countries and surviving in foreign cultures and environments, all positive skills for employability (5). Circular migrants are more likely to remit large portions of their wages, likely because they will be returning to the place of remittance regularly (6).
• Some have raised concerns about the similarities between circular migration systems and failed immigration policies like the German gastarbeiter program. The author claims that technology and increased cultural sensitivity to foreigners in the West have changes this scenario (7). Exactly how either technology or multiculturalism solves the core problem of temporary workers wanting to become permanent is unclear, and a big gap in the argument that Mr. Vertovec is making.