Mexico-US Migration Case Study

Question 1

Mexico, Cause

What are the economic push factors for Mexico? (4 things)

Answer 1

• Higher inflation rate -> 5.5%
• Low average wage -> USD 16,000
• 36.3% of population live in poverty (2022)
• GDP: USD 1.789 trillion

Question 2

Mexico, Cause

What are the economic pull factors of the US? (5 things)

Answer 2

• Low inflation rate -> 2.4%
• Higher average wage -> USD 59,000
• 11.5% of population live in poverty (2022)
• It’s close -> cheaper to move short distances
• GDP: USD 27.36 trillion

Question 3

Mexico, Cause

What are the social push factors of Mexico? (3 things)

Answer 3

• Murder rate: 23.3 per 100,000
• Only 45% of students finish secondary school
• Life expectancy is 74 years

Question 4

Mexico, Cause

What are the social pull factors of the US? (5 things)

Answer 4

• 11.6 million Mexican immigrants live in the US already -> family ties
• Citizenship at birth
• Life expectancy is 77 years -> better living conditions
• Murder rate: 5.8 per 100,000
• 91% of students finish secondary school

Question 5

Mexico, Cause

What are the environmental push factors of Mexico? (3 things)

Answer 5

• 76% of the country was experiencing drought in May 2024
• Air pollution causes 1 in 17 deaths in the country
• 43% of population has access to clean water

Question 6

Mexico, Cause

What are the environmental pull factors of the US? (1 thing)

Answer 6

97.4% of population has access to clean water.

Question 7

Mexico, Cause

What are the political push factors for Mexico? (2 thing)

Answer 7

• Ranks 60 in Freedom in the World Index (partly free)
• Corruption in local governments (governors are linlked to drug trade and cartels)

Question 8

Mexico, Cause

What are the political pull factors for the US? (2 things)

Answer 8

• Ranks 80 in Freedom in the World Index (Free)
• NAFTA agreement -> more open trade

Question 9

Mexico, Impacts

What are the positive impacts on the US? (2 things)

Answer 9

• Immigrants have a younger median age, 25-44 -> larger workforce
• Spanish is the second most spoken language in the US -> enriches US culture

Question 10

Mexico, Impacts

What are the negative impacts on the US? (3 things)

Answer 10

• Strain on public services
• 4-5 million illegal Mexican immigrants -> may create security risks/contribute to illegal activity
• Tension as Americans may believe migrants are “taking their jobs”

Question 11

Mexico, Impact

What are the positive impacts on Mexico? (3 things)

Answer 11

• Immigrants often return with new/more skills -> economic growth
• Reduction in local unemployment rates
• Remittances -> money is sent home

Question 12

Mexico, Impact

What are the negative impacts on Mexico? (2 things)

Answer 12

• 10.9 million (2023) Mexican immigrants are in the US -> some are highly education (BRAIN DRAIN)
• More than 50% of emigrants are 18-34 -> smaller workforce (BRAIN DRAIN)

Question 13

Mexico, Migrant Impacts

What are the positive impacts on the migrants themselves? (2 things)

Answer 13

• Higher wages in US compared to Mexico -> average hourly wage: US=USD 22 // Mexico = USD 3.20
• Better access to healthcare, education, and public services

Question 14

Mexico, Migrant Impacts

What are the negative impacts on the migrants themselves? (4 things)

Answer 14

• 4 million undocumented Mexican immigrants -> risk of deportation, limited access to rightrs and benefits
• 45% of Mexican immigrants only speak Spanish -> language barriers/integration issues
• Cultural discrimination
• Smugglers use the migrants for money (prices range between USD 5,000 to USD 60,000)