Migration and regulation of labour markets Flashcards
two main migration theories
functionalist,
historical-structural
what is functionalist migration theory
society as a system, collection of independent parts with inherent tendency towards equilibrium, migration as a positive phenomenon serving the interest of most people and contributing to equality between societies
what is historical-structural migration theory
how social, economic and cultural and political structures constrain and direct the behaviour of individuals in ways that generally reinforce inequalities, migration providing cheap, exploitable labour force that serves the interests of the wealthy in receiving areas
what are the two functionalist migration theories
push-pull model,
neoclassical and human capital theory
explain the push-pull migration theory
push=population growth/density, lack of economic opportunities,
pull=demand for labour, availability of land, economic opportunities and political reforms
explain the neoclassical and human capital theory (migration theory)
surplus labour in rural sector supplies workforce for industrial economy, migration as a function of geographical difference in supply and demand for labour, micro: migrants rational actors cost benefit calculation, macro: migration is process that optimises allocation of production factors
critique of push-pull migration model
descriptive: no specifying role of interaction of factors, can’t explain return migration, only demographic, environmental, economic factors
critique of neoclassical and human capital theory
assume that people are rational actors who maximise income on comparison of costs and benefits, assume potential migrants have perfect knowledge of wage level and employment in destination country, markets are perfect and accessible for the poor
what do historical-structural migration theories focus on
large-scale recruitment of labour, focus on availability and control of labour as a result of colonialism war and international inequalities, as economic and political power unequally distributed migration seen as deepening uneven development (exploiting resources of poor countries to make rich even richer)
what are the two historical-structural migration theories
globalisation theory,
segmented labour market theory
explain the globalisation theory migration theory
globalisation not simply technological and economic change but also political, globalisation as a strategy to roll back the welfare state and decrease government intervention, weakening of state as way of reinforcing power
explain segmented labour market theory migration theory
control and exploitation of labour by states and MNCs vital to survival of capitalist system, MNCs key causes and drivers of migration processes, dual labour market theory- demand for high and low skilled labour, role of race and gender in bringing labour market segmentation
critique of globalisation theory migration theory
migrants depicted as victims who have no choice but to migrate in order to survive, quite the contrary migration is diverse and many people make active choices to migrate and succeed in improving their livelihood
critique of segmented labour market theory migration theory
pre-modern societies often characterised by extreme inequalities and conflict
