Migration

Question 1

Describe immigration patterns in the UK in the past

Answer 1

• From 1900 until WWII, the largest immigrant group were Irish, mainly for economic reasons, followed by Eastern and Central European Jews who were fleeing persecution, and those of British descent from Canada and the USA. Few immigrants were non-white
• During the 1950s, black immigrants from the Caribbean began to arrive in the UK, followed by the 1960s and 70s with South Asian immigrants

Question 2

What is a consequence of immigration in the UK?

Answer 2

A more ethnically diverse society. By 2011, ethnic minority groups accounted for 14% of the population. One result has been greater diversity of family patterns

Question 3

Describe the consequences of immigration patterns in the UK in the past

Answer 3

• However, as previously, more people left the UK than entered and most immigrants were white
• Despite this, as series of immigration and nationality acts from 1962 to 1990 placed severe restrictions on non-white immigration, By the 1980s, non-whites accounted for about a quarter of all immigrants while the mainly white countries of the European Union become the main source of settlers in the UK

Question 4

What are advantages of immigration?

Answer 4

• Creates cultural diversity
• Economically benefits as more working age people
• Certain jobs fulfilled

Question 5

What are disadvantages of emigration?

Answer 5

• Tension between demographics
• Unemployment
• Discrimination
• Adapting to new environment

Question 6

Describe emigration patterns of the UK in the past

Answer 6

• From the mid-16c until the 1980s, the UK was almost always a net exporter of people: more emigrated to live elsewhere than came to settle in the UK.
• Since 1900, emigrants have gone to the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa

Question 7

Describe ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors for migration

Answer 7

• ‘Push’ factors: economic recession, unemployment at home, persecution
• ‘Pull’ factors: higher wages or better opportunities

Question 8

Outline the impact of migration of UK population structure

Answer 8

• Recent years have seen an increase in both immigration and emigration.
• These trends affect the size of UK population, age structure and the dependency ratio.

Question 9

Describe population size as an impact of migration

Answer 9

The UK population is growing, partly due to immigration
- Net migration is high (606,000 in 2022) with more immigrants than emigrants. However, after UK referendum, net migration dropped to 231,000 in 2019
- There’s also natural increase, with births exceeding deaths. However, births to UK born mothers are low, births to non-UK born are higher but even with these, births remain below the replacement level of 2.1 per woman. If not for net migration, population would be shrinking.

Question 10

Describe age structure as an impact of migration

Answer 10

Immigration lowers the average age of the population both in/directly;
- Directly: Immigrants are generally younger. e.g. in 2011, the average age of UK passport holders was 41, while that of non-UK passport holders living in Britain was 31
- Indirectly: Being younger, immigrants are more female and thus produce more babies

Question 11

Describe the dependency ratio as an impact of migration

Answer 11

• Immigrants are more likely to be of working age, this helps to lower the dependency ratio. In addition, many older migrants return to their country of origin to retire
• However, as they’re younger, immigrants have more children which increases the ratio. Over time, these children will join the labour force and help to lower the ratio once again
• The longer a group is settled in the country, the closer their fertility rate comes to national average, reducing their overall impact on the dependency ratio