The Current Migrations Issue – Pros and Cons

Migration: the permanent movement of persons from one geographical location or region to another.
 emmigration, immigration

Migration can be:

1) temporary – permanent
2) voluntary – forced
 usually caused by violence, persecution, danger, or because an authority (such as a government) has told people to move
refugees
3) internal – international
 internal migration: movement within a particular country
international migration: movement between countries

People migrate for a number of reasons. The reasons and causes for migration would normally fall under these areas:

 Environmental: Better climate, calamities, and natural disasters are examples of environmental causes or reasons.
 Economic: Moving to find work or moving to follow a particular career path is an example of economic cause or reason.
 Cultural: Religious freedom and education is an example of cultural cause or reason.
 Political: Civil war or escaping from political persecution is an example of political cause or reason.
 Social: Moving for a better quality of life or moving closer to a family member or friend is an example of a social cause or
reason.

Two Factors of Migration: At this point, we categorize the above causes or reasons for migration into two factors:

 Push Factors:
food shortage, crop failure, drought, flooding, high crime, lack of services, lack of safety, poverty, war

 Pull Factors:
abundance in food supply, more freedom, better services, good climate, higher employment, lower risk from natural
hazards, more fertile land, more wealth, political stability, safer, less crime

There are 3 main aspects of migration in connection which we can talk about advantages and disadvantages
 economic, social, political

Issues of migration: Country of origin

Economic costs include Economic benefits include

 the loss of young adult labour force  reduced under-employment

  the loss of skilled and entrepreneurial talents
 which may slow the economic development
  the loss of labour may deter inward investment
by private organisation
increasing dependence on governmental
initiatives
 returning migrants bring new skills to the country
 many migrants send remittances home
 much of this money is reinvested in economy
(such as new buildings and services)
 there is less pressure on resources in the area
 including basic supplies such as food essential services such
as healthcare
Social costs include Social benefits include

 benefits of migration encourage more to migrate
 which has a detrimental effect on social structure
 there is a disproportionate number of females left behind
 the non-return of migrants causes imbalance in the
population pyramid
 returning retired migrants may impose a social cost on the
community
 the population density is reduced, the birth rate
decreases
 with the younger adults who migrate
 remittances sent home by migrants can finance
improved education and health facilities
 returning retired migrants increase social
expectations in the community
 for example, the demand for better leisure
facilities

Political effects include

 policies to encourage natural increase

 policies to encourage immigration to counteract outflow or to develop resources

 requests for international aid

Issues of migration: Host country

Economic costs include Economic benefits include

 costs of educating the migrants’ children  migrants tend to take up the less desirable jobs

 over-dependence of some industries on migrant labour
 e.g. the construction in the UK
 Much of the earned money is repatriated to the
country of origin
 Increased numbers add pressure on to the resources
and services
 country gains skilled labour at reduced cost
 The ‘skills gap’is filled by qualified migrants
 Costs of retirement are transferred back to the country of
origin
 Immigrants bring energy and innovation

 Having workers willing to work for relatively low pay  Host countries are enriched by cultural diversity
may allow employers to ignore productivity, training
and innovation  The pension gap can be filled by the contributions of
new young workers and they also pay taxes.
 unemployment may rise if there are unrestricted
numbers of incomers.

 large movements of people lead to more security

monitoring.
Social costs include Social benefits include

 The dominance of males is reinforced  Creation of a multi-ethnic society

 especially in countries where the status of  increases understanding of other cultures
women is low
 There is an influx of new and/or revitalised providers of local
 Aspects  of cultural identity are lost services
 particularly among second-generation  for example, Turkish baths and local corner shops
migrants
 There is a growth of ethnic retailing and areas associated with
 Segregated areas of similar ethnic groups are ethnic food outlets
created  for example, the ‘curry mile’ in Rusholme,  Manchester

 schools are dominated by migrant 

children

      

Political effects include

 Discrimination against ethnic groups and minoritie  may lead to civil unrest and extremism

 Call for controls on immigration

 Entrenchment of attitudes  may encourage fundamentalism