This study aims to provide a quantification of the possible benefits and costs of circular migration for different source (developing) countries and regions by developing simulations on the basis of an integrated assessment model connecting social, economic and environmental dimensions. 

In order to do so we would first identify the various channels through which circular migration could affect the development of source countries. We can base the exercise on the review performed by Calì and te Velde (2009), who identify a number of such channels, including the impact on domestic capacity, remittances, labour markets, incentives for human capital formation (brain gain), trade and foreign direct investments, return migration.

We then aim to incorporate those channels into an integrated assessment model to stimulate the effect of circular migration on development in source countries. The International Futures (IFs) developed by Purdue University (Hughes and Hillebrand 2006, Hughes 2007, Hughes et al. 2008) is a particularly suitable tool for such an exercise. It is a sophisticated integrated assessment model connecting economy, environment and social variables in different countries.