International migration : Mexico to USA

Question 1

Define push and pull factors.

Answer 1

• Push factors : factors that drive people away ( the negatives ) from the current location
• Pull factors : factors that attract people to the new location

Question 2

Define intervening obstacles.

Answer 2

Any obstacles that a migrant must overcome on the journey

Question 3

Define remittances.

Answer 3

Money that migrants send home to their country of origin ( back home to family )

Question 4

Push factors ( Mexico ) :

Answer 4

• Violence / High crime rates ( drug cartels ). From 2006 to now, it’s estimated that the death toll amounts to 120,000, not counting the missing.
• Lack of economic opportunities
• Low paying jobs
• Lack of education. Lack of teachers, resources, etc. Lower literacy rates ( 94.5% )
• Higher levels of poverty. 38.4% earn under US $ 5.50 a day.
• Poor quality healthcare
• Poor quality housing / lack of housing

Question 5

Pull factors ( USA ) :

Answer 5

• Better police force, lower crime rates.
• Big market for low - skilled jobs.
• Better job opportunities and better paying jobs than in Mexico. USA’s primary sector - 1.42%
• Better quality schools
• Better quality + more advanced healthcare
• More housing / better quality housing with running water, and power
• Lower levels of poverty

Question 6

Intervening obstacles :

Answer 6

• Massive border fence that borders Mexico was built to stop illegal migrants ( physical barrier )
• Forced migrants to cross the Arizona desert, which is very dangerous due to its drastic temperature changes between day and night.
• Most migrants are unaware and unprepared for how hard the journey is. Some just bring only 1 bottle of water for the 5 day trek.
• It made it impossible for illegal migrants to come back to Mexico, and most, once they cross, are stuck there for life, separated from family.
• Border patrols
• No passports or visa

Question 7

Positive effects of migration on Mexico :

Answer 7

• Reduced unemployment
• Reduced pressure on schools and hospitals
• Remittances sent by family and friends living abroad. Remittances go straight into the hands of the people, not the government.
• Improved relations with foreign countries
• Migrants might return home with new skills and knowledge of new technology
• Reduced birth and fertility rates as people in reproductive age range leave.

Question 8

Negative effects of migration on Mexico :

Answer 8

• Often skilled and educated migrants leave - ‘Brain Drain’
• Dependency ratio increases as the economically active leave
• Dependency on remittances develops
• Shortage of workers, especially during harvest
• Family separation

Question 9

Positive effects of migration on USA :

Answer 9

• Source of manual workers who are prepared to work dirty low paid jobs
• Source of skilled workers who are added to the skilled workforce - ‘Brain Gain’
• New cultures
• Improved links with source countries, possible new markets

Question 10

Negative effects of migration on USA :

Answer 10

• Possible racial tension. US citizens will often blame Mexicans for taking their jobs
• Inflation caused by increased demand.
• Pressure on schools and hospitals.
• Possible unemployment
• Pressure on housing, electricity, water, etc.
• Increased congestion and pollution.