7.1 What are the contemporary patterns of global migration? Flashcards
7.1 What are the contemporary patterns of global migration?
Key idea ⮕ Global migration involves dynamic flows of people between countries, regions and continents.
Migration and links to globalisation
Migration is inextricably linked to globalisation processes. Places are increasingly interconnected and it is not surprising that the magnitude, complexity and impact of global migration make it a priority issue for almost all nations.
Migration policies, border control and migrant safety have become increasingly important issues.
Economic migrants
People who move voluntarily from one country hoping to find jobs and a higher standard of living, better quality of life.
Migrant remittances
The process by which a migrant sends money to family or friends in his or her home country.
Refugees
People who are forced to migrate from their home country and cannot return for fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or political opinion.
Asylum seekers
Someone who has migrated to another country in the hope of being recognised as a refugee.
Current spatial patterns in international migrant flows
-International migration
-Numbers, composition and direction
International migration (Current spatial patterns in international migrant flows)
International migration is one element of total population change in a country. The fact that the migration figures are estimates points to the issue of defining an international migrant. Lack of uniformity among countries creates difficulty in obtaining accurate, reliable and comparable statistics. This is compounded by the many undocumented, illegal migrations.
Population change formula
(births - deaths) ± international migration
UN definition of long-term migrant
A person who moves to a country other than his or her usual residence for a period of at least a year.
UN definition of short-term migrant
A person who moves to a country other than his or her usual residence for at least three months but less than a year.
Net migration
Refers to the difference between numbers of immigrants and emigrants for a particular country. In 2014, the UK had an estimated net migration gain of 318,000; in 2015, it was 333,000.
Numbers, composition and direction (Current spatial patterns in international migrant flows)
The scale and direction of international migration and the composition of migrant flows are complex and can be demonstrated by the immigration and emigration patterns for the UK (Figure 7.2, Table 7.2 - Page 216).
Main reasons for UK nationals living abroad
-Employment opportunities
-Retirement
-Family reunification
Employment opportunities (Main reasons for UK nationals living abroad)
The majority of emigrants were of working age, including a high proportion in managerial occupations.
Retirement (Main reasons for UK nationals living abroad)
A large number of emigrants were of retirement age. High UK house prices enable many to sell up and live more cheaply abroad, often in a locality with a warm climate and good quality of life.
Family reunification (Main reasons for UK nationals living abroad)
Moving to join relatives overseas.
Inter-regional migrant flows
Many thousands of people risk their lives to flee conflict and instability in Africa and the Middle East in the last decade in order to reach European territory.
Inter-regional migrants often travel overland across desert areas, the migrants are transported and sometimes set adrift in small vessels in the Mediterranean by the traffickers.
Intra-regional migrant flows
International migration within the EU-28 is complex. In any one year not only is there significant movement between the EU member states but also between many non-EU countries and the EU.
Inter-regional trade
The flow of international trade among major world regions such as Europe, North America and Asia.
The Lee migration model
The Lee migration model illustrates, using push and pull factors, why a migrant might decide to leave one country and travel to another.
Intra-regional trade
The flow of international trade within one of the major world regions such as Europe or Asia. Most international trade is intra-regional.
Push factors (The Lee migration model)
These are negative factors which operate in a migrant’s current location.
Pull factors (The Lee migration model)
These are the perceived advantages of a potential destination which attract migrants.
Intervening obstacles (The Lee migration model)
The Lee model incorporates the idea of intervening obstacles. These could occur at any point from origin to destination, and include: costs; physical features such as oceans, rivers, mountain ranges; climatic factors; health; transport; and cultural factors such as language.
A reason for the event increase in migrants to the EU
Recent EU expansion has increased the potential number of migrants. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and more all joined the EU in 2004; Romania and Bulgaria in 2007; and Croatia in 2013.
Most of these countries have a relatively high proportion of population in working age groups seeking employment. They are also attracted by higher wages elsewhere within the EU. The overriding motive for migration is economic.
Relationships between patterns of international migration and socio-economic development
There is a close relationship between migration and development.
-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 migrant flows.
Remittances and their importance in the development process
Remittances are of considerable importance in the development process and is shown to be a percentage of the recipient country’s GDP.
Figures show that migrant remittances to the more advanced countries, with higher HDI, are a lower percentage of GDP. For LIDCS and EDCS, they represent a higher proportion of GDP, and therefore are of greater significance to their economy and development.
Examples on Page 221.
HDI as measure of development
Development is measured according to the UN’s Human Development Index (HDI), a composite index incorporating social and economic indices for life expectancy, education and GDP per capita.
How global migration can promote stability, growth and development within and between countries through flows of people
The positive effects of international migration on stability, growth and development, for countries of origin and destination is outlined on page 222.
Global migrations are intrinsically related to flows of money, ideas and technology. This transfer of resources is significant in promoting stability, growth and development.
How global migration can promote stability, growth and development within and between countries through flows of money
Monetary transfers are most evident in the billions of dollars sent worldwide as migrant remittances. These flows of money have been made easier, more efficient and more secure by the use of technology. This includes mobile money transfers made more reliable by cash transfer programming and the use of smartphones, which have become more prevalent.
How global migration can promote stability, growth and development within and between countries through flows of ideas
Global migration also leads to the geographical diffusion of ideas, information and values which can be transmitted back to place of origin. This includes ideas on family size, education and marriage, referred to as social remittances. Information on migrant reception and progress at the destination can be useful for prospective migrants.
And values such as democracy and other norms of behaviour can flow from one country to another through use of social media or when migrants return.
How global migration can promote stability, growth and development within and between countries through flows of technology
Technology is increasingly important. It is used, for example, by international humanitarian organisations including NGOS, to assess crises so that response can be where needs are greatest. Human mobility analvsis is conducted through use of ‘big data’ including mobile phone records and credit card transactions.
Page 222.
Table - Positive effects as a result of global migration
-Stability
-Economic growth
-Development
Page 222.
How global migration causes inequalities, conflicts and injustices for people and places through unequal flows of people and money
Migrant flows are spatially uneven. Globally the South-North and South-South migrations are dominant. The transfer of ideas and money are closely related to these patterns of inequality in migration, and tend to flow in the opposite direction, back to the place of migrant origin.
How global migration causes inequalities, conflicts and injustices for people and places through unequal flows of people and money (Example)
For example, the talent-based immigration policies of countries such as Canada and the USA encourage flows of highly skilled migrants from LIDCS and EDCS, and this gives rise to consequent contra-flow of social and financial remittances.
How global migration causes inequalities, conflicts and injustices for people and places through unequal flows of ideas
In some countries, government or military control of information and limited broadband speed affect the work of civilian relief organisations. These inequalities restrict the effective management of conflict and injustices linked to migration.
How global migration causes inequalities, conflicts and injustices for people and places through unequal flows of technology
Access to technology in some countries is limited and reflects low levels of socio-economic development and infrastructure for ICT.
For example, many low- and middle-income countries lack the skilled human resources and computer forensic tools to analyse digital data or download and use maps and satellite imagery.
Table - Negative effects as a result of global migration
-Inequalities
-Conflicts
-Injustices
Page 223.
