Issues: Unequal flows of people Flashcards
Advantages
● The benefits of unequal flows of people within the country they are migrating to are mainly concerned with the workforce. Migrant workers become an important part of the host country as they become intertwined in work forces and take jobs that must be done, but are ‘unwanted’ by others. For example, 44% of the cleaning workforce in London is made up of ethnic minorities.
● Also, states that are home to large diaspora population often have strong geopolitical ties with the diaspora’s country origin. E.g. the friendship between UK and India.
● The countries that people are flowing from may also benefit from unequal flows of people out of their country. Workers send remittances back to their home country, helping their home economy to grow. An example of economic interdependency caused by migration is Indian workers moving to UAE. Over 2 million Indian migrants live in the United Arab Emirates (30% of population). An estimate of $15 billion is returned to India annually as remittances.
● Furthermore, it is surely a positive that many people are fleeing from conflict and poor quality of life, and they may have a better life in countries they have moved to.
Disadvantages 1
Disproportionately large flows of people can have
negative effects on the countries being migrated to.
Host countries may become dependent on the
migrant workers, and this causes issues if there is a
change in circumstances. For example, the reliance
on Polish migrants on UK potato farms has caused
issues with potato crops in Jersey.
● Unequal flows can cause overpopulation. Many countries experiencing large flows of people believe they suffer due to pressure on services such as healthcare, and social tension with migrants ‘taking’ jobs.
Disadvantages 2
● The country that migrants originate from may become dependent on remittances, so a change in circumstance may be detrimental to the economy. For example, the UK entered a recession in 2009. Many building projects were cancelled, meaning migrants working in construction industries lost their jobs and stopped sending remittances home. Estonia’s economy shrank by 13%, which is thought to be related to the lack of remittances.
● Large amounts of emigration (leaving) can cause unemployment and economic deterioration, as areas may become underpopulated. Skilled workers leave to work in high income countries, meaning unskilled people are left to keep the economy running.
● As many migrants are more desperate for work than nationals, they may be vulnerable to exploitation, such as poor working conditions and low wages. In Qatar, an estimated (but disputed) 1,200 migrant workers have died while building for the upcoming 2022 World Cup. This graph from The Washington Post shows the amount of deaths of workers in Qatar, compared to past Olympic games.
