It is well known that the money that immigrants send home is the biggest – and best-targeted – source of development aid to poor countries. But immigration can also spur an increase in official government aid – in a bid to improve conditions in poor countries and thus deter their citizens from migrating.
El Pais reports that Spanish aid to Africa has soared in recent years in response to the rising numbers of Africans who risk their lives on flimsy boats to try to reach Europe’s southern gateway.