How migrant networks boost trade

Millions of refugees are being forcibly displaced from war zones and failed states and most rich countries prefer to keep them out as opposed to hosting them. This is a humanitarian disaster and an epic failure to learn from the past about the effect of refugee waves. As Philippe Legrain writes in his 2016 report, ‘Refugees Work: A Humanitarian Dividend That Yields Economic Dividends, refugees are an investment that yield economic dividends. Refugees bring complementary skills that make firms more productive, create businesses and pay taxes.