Economic Migration (Edexcel A Level Geography)

Social Challenges

Environmental Challenges

Insufficient affordable housing

Limited accessibility to education and healthcare

Water pollution from untreated sewage

Air pollution from industry and vehicles

Loss of farmland

Type of Migration

Description

Examples

Elite international migration

Migrants are highly skilled and/or socially influential people e.g., Actors, Bankers, Academics and Computer programmers

Wealth comes from their profession or inheritance

Many live as ‘global citizens’ with numerous homes in different countries

Many affluent Americans and Russian oligarchs live or work in the UK

Low-waged international migration

Global hubs are very attractive to these migrants

Migrants work in low pay jobs such as in kitchens, on constructions sites or as cleaners (legally and illegally)

London, Los Angeles and Dubai have many immigrants e.g., over 2 million Indians live and work in the UAE

Internal (rural-urban migration)

Main reason for urban growth in global hubs in developing and emerging economies

However, it doesn’t play a huge role in Europe or North America

Around 3 million people are moving from rural areas to urban areas in India per year

Host Country

Source Country

Benefits

Migrants can fill skills shortages

Economic migrants tend to be willing to do labouring work e.g., working on farms

Migrants pay taxes and spend their wages on rent and in shops

Some migrants may start a new business employing others

Migrant remittances contribute to national earnings

Reduced spending on healthcare and housing

Migrants, or their children, may return, bringing new knowledge and skills

Costs

Social tension is possible if people in the host country believe migration has led to less jobs or housing

Policy changes to address public concerns e.g., to reduce migration

Shortages of school places in some areas as a result of natural increase within youthful migrant communities

Reduction in the independent, working population that would have contributed to the economy

Reduced economic growth as consumption falls

Increase in the number of dependents – children and elderly