CS: Voluntary Migration (Polish Migration to the UK)

Question 1

General

Answer 1

• 2005: 43% of immigration to UK came from A8 countries + >2/3 were from Poland

Question 2

Characteristics of migration stream

Answer 2

• short: 2hrs on plane, 28hrs by coach
• temporary (2006: 20% rarely stayed >6 months at a time)
• large scale: 264,000 workers successfully applied for work in UK between May 2004 + June 2006
• single ppl, 80% aged 18-34, male:female = 58:42
• cheap flights + special polish coach services

Question 3

Causes

Answer 3

• technological advances + more accessible travel options: makes migration easier (cheap flights by budget airlines) (e.g. Slough located close to Heathrow airport, attracting migration)
• skills shortage in UK, e.g. needed workers in construction + agri.
• may earn 5x more in UK (e.g. avg. wage in Lincolnshire around 3x more) can send remittances back, save to buy homes or start businesses on return

Question 4

Positive impacts of migration on UK (destination country)

Answer 4

• filled gaps in labour market(E.g. Lincolnshire thought of going bankrupt w/o migrant workers as take jobs local ppl don’t want)
• dedicated work ethos: Polish workforce has contributed several £B to British eco + have eased UK pension burden (ageing pop)
• culture more diverse as immigrants merge more (e.g. inc polish shops in Slough)

Question 5

Negative impacts of migration on UK (destination country)

Answer 5

• Estimated 10,000 polish migrants alone put pressure on Slough’s health, housing, education, welfare services + transport
• In Slough, local schools under pressure: taken on interpreters + Polish speaking classroom assistants
• in Crewe: local education system put under pressure as 1/5 pupils at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School are now Polish
• [British ppl deprived of work as all immigrants find work]
• [unknown extent of N° of migrants (e.g. Wrexham: 2340 registered, suggested 8000 live there)]

Question 6

Positive impacts of migration on Poland (source country)

Answer 6

• new arrivals better informed + more realistic expectations
• Migrants in UK earn more money they can send home (e.g. 1/2 Poles working in UK send remittances + ab. £4B transferred back /yr): can return to set up a business/buy a house
  
  • Counterstream allows inc. in skilled workers (braingain)

Question 7

Negative impacts of migration on Poland (source area)

Answer 7

• 2001: difficult to find local ppl for low wage, part time factory jobs in Crewe: recruited ppl from Poland = unemployment reached almost 20%
• leads to inc shortage of skilled workers in Poland (barrier to growth) bc most migrants are younger working ppl
• divorce rate has x2 in 7 yrs as pressure of migration = many to leave spouses behind + long periods of separation put a strain on marriages

Question 8

Evaluations

Answer 8

• pos. impacts (mainly eco) outweigh neg. impacts (mainly social which can be reduced/overcome) in UK: over time + space, migrants will sig. contribute to British eco., whilst also dec pension burden
• neg impacts (eco + social) outweigh pos impacts in Poland: shortage of labour, stunts future eco. growth + even remittances won’t be able to cushion the blow

Question 9

What is an international migration stream?

Answer 9

• movement of ppl across international borders, when migrants share a common origin + destination