Unit 5 - Essays - International Migration UPDATED Flashcards
With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which refugee flows
impact more on receiving/destination areas in LICs/MICs than on
receiving/destination areas in HICs.
Paragraph 1: Economic Strain on LICs/MICs vs. HICs
Point: LICs/MICs struggle more economically because they have weaker economies and fewer resources. HICs, though affected, have the financial capacity to manage refugee arrivals.
Evidence & Development:
Lebanon (MIC) has taken in 1.5 million Syrian refugees, equivalent to 25% of its population.
The World Bank estimates Lebanon lost $7.5 billion in economic output (2011–2016) due to the crisis.
Jordan has over 760,000 refugees, and the Za’atari refugee camp alone houses 80,000 people, requiring $1.2 million per day for basic needs.
In contrast, Germany (HIC) received 1 million+ Syrian refugees but allocated €93 billion (2016–2020) for integration programs.
Key contrast: HICs have financial support, strong economies, and international funding, while LICs/MICs struggle to meet basic needs.
Evaluation:
The scale of economic burden is far higher in LICs/MICs due to weaker economies and reliance on international aid.
Over time, economic stagnation in LICs/MICs worsens, whereas HICs can eventually benefit from a larger workforce.
Paragraph 2: Strain on Public Services & Infrastructure
Point: LICs/MICs already have weak public services, and refugee arrivals further overload healthcare, education, and housing. HICs, while impacted, have better infrastructure and social services to handle the crisis.
Evidence & Development:
Lebanon: 80% of Syrian refugees live below the poverty line, relying on overstretched public hospitals.
170% increase in demand for healthcare, causing medicine shortages and overcrowded hospitals.
Schools are overburdened: double shift system (Lebanese students in the morning, refugees in the afternoon).
Jordan: One of the world’s driest countries—water supply per person has dropped by 40% since 2011.
In contrast, Germany built 500,000 new housing units to accommodate refugees.
Sweden provided free education and language training to support refugee integration.
Evaluation:
LICs/MICs face immediate collapse of public services, while HICs, despite challenges, have funds and planning capacity to expand services.
The spatial impact is greatest in small, resource-limited LICs/MICs, while HICs distribute the burden more effectively.
Paragraph 3: Social & Political Challenges in HICs vs. LICs/MICs
Point: While LICs/MICs experience economic and infrastructure collapse, HICs struggle more with political and social tensions caused by refugee integration.
Evidence & Development:
HICs: Rise of far-right nationalism in response to refugee flows.
Germany: The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party grew from 4.7% in 2013 to 12.6% in 2017, fueled by anti-refugee sentiment.
Sweden: The Sweden Democrats gained 17.5% of votes in 2018, highlighting growing opposition to immigration.
LICs/MICs have fewer political tensions because refugees often share cultural and linguistic similarities.
Example: In Jordan and Lebanon, Syrians speak Arabic and share cultural traditions, reducing integration difficulties.
However, resentment still exists:
Jordan: Local workers complain of job competition, with Syrians taking lower-paid informal jobs (35% of informal workforce).
Evaluation:
HICs experience greater political division due to cultural differences, but they do not suffer economic collapse like LICs/MICs.
LICs/MICs bear the economic burden, while HICs struggle with political backlash and social unrest.
Paragraph 4: Long-Term Impacts & Temporal Variation
Point: The impact of refugee flows changes over time—LICs/MICs suffer long-term economic decline, while HICs can eventually benefit from an expanded workforce.
Evidence & Development:
LICs/MICs:
Lebanon’s economy has stagnated due to long-term refugee presence and increased reliance on aid.
35% of informal workers in Lebanon are Syrian refugees, leading to job losses for Lebanese citizens.
HICs (Germany & Sweden):
Initially, integration costs are high, but by 2021, 50% of working-age Syrian refugees in Germany found jobs.
Long-term, refugees can fill labor shortages, benefiting the economy.
Scale of impact changes over time:
Immediate burden is greater in LICs/MICs, where refugees cause economic instability.
Over decades, HICs may benefit from migration, while LICs/MICs continue to struggle with dependency on aid.
Evaluation:
In the short term, LICs/MICs experience the worst effects.
In the long run, HICs may turn the crisis into an economic advantage, while LICs/MICs remain economically vulnerable.
Conclusion
The impact of refugee flows varies by location, economy, and government capacity.
LICs/MICs suffer the greatest short-term and long-term burden due to weak economies, overstretched services, and limited aid.
HICs face political and social challenges, but their strong economies allow them to absorb refugees better over time.
Spatially, the most severe impacts are in small, resource-limited LICs/MICs near conflict zones.
Temporally, while LICs/MICs struggle indefinitely, HICs may benefit from refugees in the long run.
Overall, LICs/MICs experience far greater negative impacts than HICs.
‘Obstacles have a less important role in international economic migration than in other types of international migration’. With the aid of examples, how far do you agree?
- Obstacles in Economic Migration: The Mexico–USA Case
Point: Economic migration is voluntary and driven by work opportunities and income differences. Obstacles exist but are often navigable.
Scale: One of the largest migration routes globally—11.2 million Mexican immigrants in the US (2020, Pew Research).
Obstacles:
Legal barriers: The US government limits migration through visa caps.
H-2A and H-2B programs allow seasonal work but have strict quotas.
Border enforcement:
The 1,954-mile-long border wall, heavy surveillance, and increased patrols make crossing difficult.
Cost barriers:
Migrants may pay $7,000+ to smugglers for illegal crossing.
Why these obstacles are manageable:
Many Mexicans still manage to migrate due to strong economic pull factors.
Remittances continue to grow—$58.5 billion sent home in 2022 (World Bank).
Some migrants return home if migration does not work out, unlike forced migrants.
Evaluation: Obstacles exist but can often be planned for or worked around. This makes them less severe than those for forced migration.
- Obstacles in Forced Migration: The Syrian Refugee Crisis
Point: Forced migration occurs when people flee danger. Obstacles are often harsher and life-threatening.
Scale: 6.8 million Syrian refugees (UNHCR, 2023)—one of the largest displacements since WWII.
Obstacles:
Government policies blocking refugees:
2016 EU-Turkey deal—Europe restricted refugee arrivals.
Lebanon’s entry ban (2015) stopped many Syrians from fleeing.
Physical dangers:
Refugees travel thousands of miles on foot or in unsafe boats.
Over 3,700 drowned in 2015 attempting to cross the Mediterranean (IOM).
Living conditions:
Many live in overcrowded refugee camps with poor healthcare and few jobs.
Why these obstacles are harder to overcome:
Refugees have no time to plan—they must flee suddenly.
They cannot return home safely, unlike economic migrants.
Many are denied entry or treated with hostility.
Evaluation: Unlike economic migrants, who face financial and legal barriers, forced migrants experience immediate, life-threatening obstacles with no choice in their movement.
- How Migration Obstacles Change Over Time and Space
Point: Migration obstacles are not fixed; they depend on geography and government policies.
Economic migration:
US border control has changed over time:
2017 Trump-era policies reduced illegal crossings by 40% (CBP).
Despite restrictions, 250,000 Mexican migrants still used legal work programs in 2021.
Forced migration:
Barriers tend to stay rigid or worsen:
Since 2011, many European countries introduced stricter refugee policies.
Hungary and Poland built border fences to keep Syrians out.
Example of long-term restrictions:
Denmark’s “jewel law” allows authorities to confiscate refugees’ valuables.
Evaluation: Economic migration policies change with labor demand, but forced migration is consistently met with stricter, long-lasting obstacles.
- Comparing the Overall Impact of Obstacles in Economic and Forced Migration
Point: Both economic and forced migrants face obstacles, but forced migrants have fewer choices and face greater risks.
Why obstacles in economic migration are lower:
Migrants often have time to prepare.
If migration fails, they can return home.
Governments may relax policies when labor is needed.
Why obstacles in forced migration are more severe:
Refugees do not choose to migrate—they must flee.
They often face danger or persecution in their home country.
They are blocked from entering many countries.
Evaluation: Economic migration is challenging, but forced migration involves greater obstacles, higher risks, and fewer legal pathways.
Conclusion
Obstacles exist in all types of migration, but forced migration has the highest barriers.
Economic migrants face costs, visa restrictions, and border control, but they can often find legal work routes or return home.
Forced migrants face war, persecution, and strict government policies, with no safe return options.
Final judgment: Obstacles are generally much harder to overcome for forced migrants than for economic migrants.
