SYNTHETIC SYSTEM OF REGIONAL MIGRATION POLICY: THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF FORMATION

Abstract

The task of the research was to structure the existing migration systems, to define the role of regional level in the current migration policy and to determine how formation of a synthetic system of regional migration policy is taking place. The author proposes to divide the immigration policy into three types: the demand-driven migration system, the supply-driven migration system and the synthetic migration system.
Demand-oriented systems can manifest themselves through the testing of the labor market, preliminary certification of employers, as well as attestation. The key priority of the supply-driven migration systems is to focus on the national interests of the destination country and maximize the positive effect of large-scale involvement of migrants with high human capital. The main form of manifestation of this system is the use of the points-based migration system, according to which individual characteristics of a potential migrant are assessed. To overcome the limitations of both approaches, a number of countries are switching to use of the synthetic migration policy, which includes the elements of both aforementioned systems.
Combination of tools of demand- and supply-driven migration systems allows both to take into account the migration interests of the state (mainly due to preservation or introduction of the points-based migration system) and to account for interests of employers (for example, providing for a large number of points for employees with job offers). The synthetic migration system is mostly used by countries that have a long history of immigration and have previously used the supply-driven migration system (e.g., Canada, Australia). However, countries with the demand-driven migration system (in particular, the USA through the mechanism of the RAISE Act) are approaching it as well.
There is no single migration policy regarding labor migration in framework of the regional integration associations; however, in some regions, the regional migration policy is manifested in coordination of the national migration policy at the regional level. The synthetic migration policy serves as the basis for regional regulation in Oceania, and also has significant chances for implementation in the North America region.