Impacts of Migration (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Impacts on Migrants
Impacts depend on:
Who the migrant is - voluntary, forced etc.
Why they are migrating - job prospects, fear etc.
Where they are migrating to - urban, internal etc.
Where they are migrating from - rural, international etc.
When they are migrating - summer, winter etc.
How they are migrating - on foot, plane, car etc.
Setting up and closing down costs of migrating - selling and buying a home or renting, shipping costs etc.
Impacts can have a positive or negative effect on the migrant and their family with many being similar impacts to all types of migrants
Impacts on different types of migrants
Migrant | Positive Impact | Negative Impact |
|---|---|---|
Voluntary International | Wages are higher with better job security A wider choice of job opportunities Ability to support wider family with remittances Better housing and improved facilities | Financial costs are higher Can mean separation from wider family and friends Problems settling into a new culture Exposure to possible ethnic discrimination There may be a language barrier Regret and homesickness |
Voluntary Internal | Change of lifestyle Maybe cheaper cost of living Different opportunities Urban to rural for extra space Rural to urban for job opportunity Improved availability of health, social and leisure facilities | Unfamiliar surroundings and sense of loss Lack of, or informal employment Poor or slum housing Victimisation and urban poverty Regret and homesickness Finding and making new friends Limited access to facilities; may have to travel to see a health professional |
Forced International | Safety from conflict Better opportunities Improved education | Few job opportunities Exposure to discrimination based on ethnic, gender and language barrier Abandonment of family, friends, and home Housed in camps with overcrowding and risk of disease Fatigue and hunger from travel PTSD and other long-term health issues from experience Lack of money and exposure to exploitation |
Forced Internal | Safety from hazards or conflict Improved healthcare Better opportunities Access to facilities Better education Improved housing | Loss of home, family and friends Loss of sense of belonging to a community Cost of starting all over again Anxiety about finding a new home Fatigue and abandonment Stress of fitting into a new community |
Impacts on Origin & Destination
The impact of migration on a country's population change is very small
The only type of migration that would make an impact would be international migration
Impacts on Countries of Origin and Destination
Country | Positive Impacts | Negative Impacts |
|---|---|---|
Origin | Migrants send remittances back, increasing the living standards of families but also the wider community (spread of wealth) Chance for some areas to recover due to less competition for space, jobs and or partners Reduction in pressure on healthcare, education services etc. Housing released for other families | Rural depopulation Adds to an ageing profile Family and friends were left behind to fend for themselves Hostility to those left behind Loss of young adults from the labour force Brain-drain of vital skilled workers Agricultural output can decrease |
Destination | Cultural fusion Boost to falling or ageing populations Improvement of economic growth through paying taxes, etc. A skilled worker's contribution to the development of a country Increased global political status Increased labour force | Environmental pressures through deforestation and overgrazing, waste, pollution, etc. Sanitation, water and food shortages Illegal migrants: violation of human rights, human trafficking, exploitation Non-integration within the wider community: a sense of mistrust and a possible rise in crime Pressure on the government to supply healthcare, food, and housing - difficult if the country of destination is a developing country Housing issues, migrants may find themselves on the streets, in camps or in squatter settlements |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Internal migrants are not always the poorest people
It can be from rural to urban, urban to urban or urban to rural
Migrants will move for perceived better opportunities
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