2.a. Globalisation and migration

Question 1

What is Globalisation?

Answer 1

The growing integration and interdependence of people’s lives in a complex process with economic, social (cultural), political and environmental components

Question 2

How has globalisation influenced migration on a global scale?

Answer 2

The number of international migrants globally reached an estimated 281 million people in 2020. Currently, international migrants comprise 3.6% of the global population, compared to 2.8% in the year 2000, according to the United Nations.
An increasing number of countries and their economies have become more inter-dependent. The increasing complexity of global migration can be linked to this intensification of the globalisation process.
Major bilateral corridors and traditional migration partnerships have remained strong, but in addition new places of origin and new destinations for migrant have emerged as the effects of globalisation have spread.

Question 3

Explain the economic globalisation - EDCs to the USA (inter-regional migration)

Answer 3

• The top six countries of birth of new lawful permanent residents (LPRs) in USA in 2021 were: Mexico (14%), India (13%), Mainland China (7%), The Philippines (4%), Brazil (1%)
• Together these countries represented about 44% of all new green-card recipients
• Most migrants are highly skilled and are graduates, especially in science, mathematics and technology and those in professional and business services, are attracted by high salaries and high quality of life

Question 4

Explain the economic globalisation - Asia to the Gulf States (inter-regional migration)

Answer 4

• The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union that consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
  -In 2013 the UAE had the 5th largest migrant stock in the world with 7.8 million migrants (out of a total population of 9.3 million – only 15% are Emirati)
• Roughly half (50%) of the 50 million people in the GCC are non-citizens / migrants. In Qatar and the UAE, it is more than 85%
• Main migrant groups from Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines)
• Many migrate from Asia due to the GCC countries offering high-paying jobs (in the oil industry, construction, manufacturing and service sectors). GCC countries often have policies that encourage foreign labour, making it easier for migrants to obtain work permits and visas.
• Also it is easy to send back formal remittances

Question 5

Explain the economic globalisation of ASEAN Countries (intra-regional migration)

Answer 5

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping that promotes economic, political and security cooperation among its ten members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
• Rapid increase of migrant stock (6.5 million) among ASEAN member states, the fastest growing economies of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are the main destinations
• Myanmar (former Burma), Lao, Cambodia are the main source countries of migrants
• Most migrants are low-skilled, many undocumented seeking employment and higher wages via cyclical migration to countries of higher socio-economic development

Question 6

Explain the economic globalisation of EU Countries (intra-regional migration)

Answer 6

• Intra-EU migration has increased in recent years, due to the expansion of the EU to include new member states from Eastern Europe, the free movement of people within the Schengen Area.
• Many people from Romania and Bulgaria have migrated to Germany.
• The most common type of intra-EU migration is labour migration.
• People move from countries with high unemployment or low wages to countries with better job opportunities and higher wages.
• Return migration is also a significant reason for the trends

Question 7

Explain the economic globalisation of South America Mercosur Countries (intra-regional migration)

Answer 7

• Approximately 70% of immigration in South America is intra-regional.
• Almost 5% of the population of Argentina and Venezuela were born abroad over 2 million and almost 1.5 million. Brazil, Colombia and Peru have the lowest percentage (0.3%).
• Restrictive policies on entry and access to residence in developed nations, the economic crises in the United States and Europe, greater employment opportunities and more beneficial regulatory frameworks in the region.
• Disparities in wages and labour opportunities causes intra-regional migration.
• Regional integration: Mercosur allows free movement of labour.

Question 8

Explain the economic globalisation within EDCs (internal migration)

Answer 8

• Migration can contribute significantly to development, it can be a positive process for stability, economic growth and socio-economic change.
• Inequalities in levels of development can be a cause of migration, this has a major influence on the direction and scale of global migration flows.
• For example, in 2019 US$6.88 billion was sent by migrants as remittances to the USA, less than 0.1% of GDP.
• India received more than ten times this amount, US$83.13 billion, 2.8% of their GDP.
• Haiti received much less, US$3.27 billion, but this was 37.1% of GDP.
• Migrant remittances can be affected by restrictive immigration policies of developed countries and costs of travel, including payments to traffickers.