Engaging the diaspora for economic gain: what can Latvia expect?

Following the global trend of countries engaging with their diaspora populations, Latvia has expressed its commitment to its diaspora with the recent passing of the Diaspora Law. One of the stated aims of the legislation is the engagement of the diaspora in Latvia’s economic development. In this article, a thorough analysis of the existing literature highlights the available diaspora resources that countries of origin can draw upon, identifies the avenues of diaspora engagement for development, and outlines the necessary preconditions for successful diaspora engagement. Using secondary data analysis of available Latvian diaspora surveys, the article then establishes what Latvia can expect from its diasporas, both ‘old’ and ‘new,’ and identifies the most promising target groups for promoting economic development, pinpoints their geographical locations, and outlines the concerns and challenges that Latvia has to overcome in order to effectively engage with and harness the economic potential ofx its diaspora.