A recent paper analysing the evolution of migration policies over the 20^th and 21^st centuries has shown that, contrary to popular assumptions, they have become less restrictive in recent years.

The paper, entitled 'Growing restrictiveness or changing selection? The nature and evolution of migration policies', shows that since 1945, immigration policies have consistently moved in a less restrictive direction, for both 'skilled' and 'low-skilled' migrant workers.

The authors, Dr Hein de Haas, Co-Director of the International Migration Institute, an Oxford Martin School institute, and researchers Katharina Natter and Simona Vezzoli, used new data from the DEMIG POLICY database - comprising over 6,500 migration policies in 45 countries – to draw their conclusions.

• Download the full paper here
• Read a blog entry by Dr Hein de Haas on myths, facts and hysteria surrounding migration