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PRWP

Reproducibility package for Where and How is Money Spent on International Migration and Refugees by World Bank Operational Projects?

2025
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Reference ID
RR_WLD_2025_287
DOI
https://doi.org/10.60572/y4tv-hy73
Author(s)
David McKenzie, Charlotte Müller, Pablo Acosta
Collections
World Bank Policy Research Working Papers
Metadata
JSON
Created on
May 29, 2025
Last modified
May 29, 2025
  • Project Description
  • Downloads
  • Overview
  • Reproducibility Package
  • Description
  • Scope and coverage
  • Disclaimer
  • Access and rights
  • Contacts
  • Information on metadata
  • Citation
  • Overview

    Abstract

    A strong evidence base has documented the many ways in which international migration can bring large development benefits for individuals and communities. Flagship reports and analytical work from international organizations like the World Bank have long argued for the need for countries to actively manage migration for development. How much is this evidence and rhetoric reflected in what money actually gets spent on? This paper analyzes the World Bank portfolio of projects financed between 2014 and 2024 to see how much money is being spent on activities related to international migration and refugees in developing countries, where it is being spent, and what it is being used for. It identifies 160 operational projects, totaling $15 billion for components related to migration, refugees and forced displacement. However, this funding is highly concentrated in a small number of countries, and over 70 percent of World Bank clients have not received a single dollar in financing for migration in a decade. Financing is almost entirely driven by projects to support refugees and displaced populations, with funding for facilitating or increasing benefits from economic (labor) migration averaging only $11 million per year. Funding on refugees goes well beyond immediate humanitarian support, with much of the focus on how to improve development outcomes for them through education, housing, and labor market inclusion. Examination of the small number of projects that do relate to economic migration show efforts to develop new migration corridors, reintegrate returnees, as well as a role for improving the technical and vocational training systems of sending countries to better align and certify skills with overseas demand. These cases also provide a demonstration effect of how money can be spent proactively to enhance the benefits of international mobility. The paper concludes by discussing the barriers to more project lending and potential opportunities.

    Reproducibility Package

    Scripts
    Readme Get Reproducibility Package
    Link: https://reproducibility.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/279/download/835/README.pdf
    Reproducibility package for Where and How is Money Spent on International Migration by World Bank Operational Projects?
    Title
    Reproducibility package for Where and How is Money Spent on International Migration by World Bank Operational Projects?
    Date
    2025-05
    Dependencies
    Stata dependencies are listed in the ado folder.
    Instructions
    See README in reproducibility package.
    Notes
    Computational reproducibility verified by Development Impact (DIME) Analytics team, World Bank.
    Source code repository
    Repository name URI
    Reproducible Research Repository (World Bank) https://reproducibility.worldbank.org
    Software
    Stata
    Name
    Stata

    Reproducibility

    Technology environment

    Paper exhibits were reproduced in a computer with the following specifications:

    • OS: Windows 10 Enterprise 22H2
    • Processor: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E7- 4860 @ 2.27GHz 2.26 GHz (2 processors)
    • Memory available: 1TB
    • Software version: Stata 18.0 MP
    Technology requirements

    The code takes approximately 5 minutes to run.

    Reproduction instructions
    • Open the MigrationWPreplication do file
    • Update directory paths to your folders' locations
    • Run the do-file

    Data

    Datasets
    World Bank Official Boundaries
    Name
    World Bank Official Boundaries
    Note
    Source: World Bank. Datasets are located in the folder 'Data/Mapboundaries'
    Access policy
    Open data
    License
    Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
    License URL
    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    Data URL
    https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/int/search/dataset/0038272?_gl=1*ss29js*_gcl_au*MjIwODAyNTA1LjE3MjU2MjY2ODM.
    World Development Indicators
    Name
    World Development Indicators
    Note
    Source: World Bank. Datasets: (1) WDIextract.dta includes the series NY.GDP.PCAP.KD, SM.POP.REFG, SM.POP.REFG.OR, BX.TRF.PWKR.DT.GD.ZS, SM.POP.TOTL.ZS, SM.POP.TOTL, SP.POP.TOTL, DT.DOD.MWBG.CD; (2) IDAlist.dta was created by downloading the series NY.GDP.MKTP.KD for IDA countries only, and then just keeping the list of countries that are IDA; (3) IBRDlist.dta was created by downloading the series NY.GDP.MKTP.KD for IBRD countries only, and then just keeping the list of countries that are IBRD.
    Access policy
    Open Data
    License
    Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
    License URL
    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    Data URL
    https://databank.worldbank.org/source/2?
    Global Bilateral Migration Matrix 1960-2020 from the World Development Report 2024
    Name
    Global Bilateral Migration Matrix 1960-2020 from the World Development Report 2024
    Note
    Source: World Bank. Dataset: WBMM_1960_2020.dta. Link to the dataset is forthcoming at https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2024
    Access policy
    Open data
    World Bank project database
    Name
    World Bank project database
    Note
    Source: Constructed by the authors based on World Bank Project documents, and is included in the reproducibility package. Dataset: WBMigrationProjects.dta
    Access policy
    Open data
    Data statement

    All data sources are publicly available and included in the reproducibility package.

    Description

    Output
    Where and How is Money Spent on International Migration and Refugees by World Bank Operational Projects?
    Type
    PRWP Working Paper
    Title
    Where and How is Money Spent on International Migration and Refugees by World Bank Operational Projects?
    Description
    Policy Research Working Papers (PRWP)
    Authors
    Author Affiliation Email
    David McKenzie World Bank dmckenzie@worldbank.org
    Charlotte Müller Independent Consultant charlotte.j.mueller@gmail.com
    Pablo Acosta World Bank pacosta@worldbank.org
    Date of production

    2025-05-28

    Scope and coverage

    Geographic locations
    Location Code
    World WLD
    Keywords
    Migration Policies Refugees World Bank Lending Government Policy
    Topics
    ID Topic Parent topic ID Vocabulary Vocabulary URI
    F22 International Migration F2 Journal of Economic Literature (JEL)
    O20 General • Development Planning and Policy O2 Journal of Economic Literature (JEL)
    O15 Human Resources • Human Development • Income Distribution • Migration O1 Journal of Economic Literature (JEL)

    Disclaimer

    Disclaimer

    The materials in the reproducibility packages are distributed as they were prepared by the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this event do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, the Executive Directors of the World Bank, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the materials included in the reproducibility package.

    Access and rights

    License
    Name URI
    Modified BSD3 https://opensource.org/license/bsd-3-clause/

    Contacts

    Contacts
    Name Affiliation Email
    David McKenzie World Bank dmckenzie@worldbank.org
    Reproducibility WBG World Bank reproducibility@worldbank.org

    Information on metadata

    Producers
    Name Abbreviation Affiliation Role
    Reproducibility WBG DIME World Bank - Development Impact Department Verification and preparation of metadata
    Date of Production

    2025-05-28

    Document version

    1

    Citation

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