The long term and permanent migration of people out of Australia has increased substantially in recent years. At present little is known about the scale, composition and significance of that movement. Graeme Hugo, Dianne Rudd and Kevin Harris seek to fill this gap through analysis of secondary data and surveys of the individuals involved. The study seeks to analyse the economic, demographic and social characteristics of persons leaving Australia on a permanent or long-term basis, both Australian-born and overseas-born persons. The study seeks to explain this movement and establish its economic effects on Australia.