3.5 Economic Migration Flashcards
What is a mega city and how may are there
A city with a population of 10million or more
There are 34
Why do megacities grow
- rural-urban migration
- natural increase
What is hyperurbanisation
When urbanisation is happening at such a high rate the city cannot cope
What is urbanisation
The process of the majority of the world’s population moving from living in rural regions to urban ones
What are push factors from a rural area
- unemployment
- lack of services
- lack of opportunities
- isolation and lack of infrastructure
What are pull factors to an urban area
- wider amount and range of job types
- following friends and family
- more leisure opportunities
- more services
- bright light syndrome
Why has urbanisation happened in China
- open door policy created more jobs
- creation of flat pack cities where buildings for 1000 households are built in only two weeks - little space and time but accommodate many people
- government offers incentives and jobs to farmers and rural workers to encourage them to move to the cities eg giving them a. Stream off income if they sell their land
What are social consequences of rapid urban
- creation of slums / unsafe settlements
- creation of informal jobs like garbage collection because government doesn’t provide sufficient services
- increased spread of disease
What are environmental impacts of rapid urbanisation
- pollution and emissions from construction projects
- eutrophication from chemicals in water kills ecosystems
- urban sprawl
- urban heat effect
What is a global hub city
A city with a major influence in a given industry eg finance, law, innovation etc
Eg London and finance, Washington and politics, Hague and law
What are the types of migration
Rural-urban migration
High wage, elite migration
Low wage migration
What is elite migration and name an example of
When highly skilled workers or wealthy, influential people move to an area
Eg Russian Oligarchs in London
Why did Russian oligarchs come to London
- John major introduced the golden visa meaning anyone who invested £1 million to the UK would get residency rights
- many oligarchs did so and bought properties in London as the prices are so stable
What are the consequences of elite migration (oligarchs in London)
- responsible for 1/3 of property purchases from 2004 to 2014
- their demands created industries for other Russians in London eg housing agencies for Russian speaking clients
- lead to gentrification, out pricing locals but increasing spending in London
What is low wage migration and name an example
Migrant workers become employed in low wage jobs that are typically physically demanding and unappealing to local workers
Eg Qatar
Why did low wage migration happen in Qatar in 2022
- World Cup created jobs in construction
- attracted migrant workers from countries like India, Nepal and Pakistan
What happened to migrant workers in Qatar
- many died on the job
- forced to live in labour camps with dorms of 12-14 people and only 2 kitchens for 600 people
- employer didn’t provide contracts needed for workers to go home, holding them captive and forcing labour (modern slavery)
- many weren’t payed for their work
What are the benefits of migration for the host county
- cheap workforce
- balance aging population
- brain gain / fill skill shortage gaps
- grow industries due to increased consumption
What are the benefits of migration for the source country
- remittances allow trickle down effect, improving services
- reduces unemployment in the area
What are the costs of migration to the host country
- pressure on services increases
- may be hostility towards migrant workers, increasing tensions, may require communtiy policing
- foreign buyers reduces personal investment into an area
What are the costs of migration to the source country
- brain drain
- leaves an aging population that are more dependent and less economically active
