Hiraeth is a Welsh word which describes a blend of homesickness, nostalgia and longing for a place. Whilst there is no direct translation, hiraeth shares similarities with the concepts of saudade in Portugal, hüzün in Türkiye and natsukashi-sa in Japan, countries which all have rural regions deeply affected by population decline.
Whilst the strong emotional attachment to one’s home can be leveraged to bring back migrants that tackle skills gaps, diaspora populations that remain abroad can bring other benefits back home too.
Rural regions are experiencing depopulation much faster than cities
The longing for one’s home may become an increasingly common feeling as outward migration from many OECD countries is set to increase. This is particularly the case in rural regions – over 40% of OECD countries have seen their rural populations decline between 2001-22, over double that of OECD countries on average. Low birth rates and net outward migration of people in search of better economic and social opportunities both lead to dwindling populations.
In rural regions, the picture is often more challenging than in towns and cities. For example, in Germany, Portugal and Türkiye, the populations of rural regions are declining, and lag significantly behind the growth of populations in cities. And while the UK has seen an overall growth of nearly 6% in its rural population, some rural regions like Ceredigion in Wales have continued to shrink.
How can policymakers engage with diaspora’s that remain abroad?
Many countries and regions now have schemes to encourage the diaspora to return – through targeted grants and relocation assistance. Portugal’s Programa Regressar is one example of an ambitious initiative designed to lure the diaspora back home to work or start a business. However, even if they don’t return, engaging the diaspora can be a winning strategy to support regional development.
One way is to create pathways for outward migrants to invest back into local communities. For example, in Mexico, the 3×1 Programme for Migrants offers an opportunity for migrants to reinvest in a wide range of community projects, promising that every dollar invested by an expatriate in the programme will be matched by a dollar each from the federal, state and municipal governments. The scheme has financed thousands of community projects from schools to water systems, strengthening ties between migrants and their hometowns, but can be further expanded to encourage specific investment in regions facing population decline.
Governments can also redirect taxes, such as through Japan’s Hometown Return programme, which allows residents to redirect part of their residence tax to a local government of their choice. This enables those from rural regions who left for better economic opportunities in urban areas to give back. Offering gifts from local regions and tax breaks, the programme has encouraged many in urban areas to provide financial support elsewhere.
Regions can also leverage the diaspora to help build skills. The Irish Diaspora Support Project hosts regular webinars and forms part of the Irish Government’s Global Irish Diaspora Strategy which aims to engage all those with Irish connections abroad. “Diaspora directories” and mentoring platforms operate in a range of business sectors which foster skill and knowledge transfer to mentees in Ireland, even if the mentors remain abroad.
Mobilising diaspora ties for rural renewal
Engaging the diaspora should be understood as more than an effort to entice people to return home. Strong local identities endure long after migration, and policymakers can harness this attachment to mobilise skills, knowledge and investment from afar. For rural regions facing demographic decline, these connections represent a significant yet underused resource.
By pairing cultural identity with structured opportunities for mentoring, financial engagement and knowledge exchange, governments can enable diaspora communities to contribute meaningfully to the vitality of their hometowns from wherever they are in the world.
Read more about the OECD’s work on this topic in Shrinking Smartly and Sustainably: Strategies for Action. Read the related COGITO blog here From roots to returns: engaging diasporas to tackle skills gaps.
Jack Waters works as a Product and Project Co-ordinator in the communications unit at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities. He works closely with policy analysts to deliver impactful reports and outputs on regional development, local employment and skills, urban, SME and tourism policies.
Jack is from Wales and holds a degree in History from Trinity College Dublin.