The Costs and Benefits of Economic Migration IMPACT ON ORIGIN / SOURCE COUNTRY ECONOMIC COSTS •
Loss of young adult labour force
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Loss of skills base and entrepreneurs - could slow economic development
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out - migration may cause spital of decline which is difficult to halt (see link on NE Deindustrialisation blog)
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Loss of labour may discourage inward investment, increasing dependence on government support. ECONOMIC BENEFITS
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Prospect of reduced under emloyment in the source country
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Returning migrants bring new skills to the country which may revitalise home country economy
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Money sent home by migrants may be invested in the home economy or businesses
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Les pressure on resources including basic supplies such as food and water and essentail services such as healthcare SOCIAL COSTS
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Perceived benefits of migration continue to encourage following generations to migrate with a net detrimental effect on social structure
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Disproportionate number of females left behind
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Non return of migrants leaves imbalance in population structure with long term consequences
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Returning retired migrants may impose social cost on the community if there is an inadequate support mechanism to cater for them SOCIAL BENEFITS
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Population density reduced and birth rate decreases (young fertile who migrate)
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Money sent home by migrants can finance improved education and healthcare facilities
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Returning retired migrants increase social expectations within the community, e.g., demand for better leisure facilities
IMPACT ON DESTINATION COUNTRY ECONOMIC COSTS •
Cost of educating migrants' children
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Increasing over dependence on migrant labour to support some industries (e.g. vegetable picking in East Anglia)
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Leakage of money earned by migrants, including pension payments, goes back to country of origin
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Increased numbers of people puts pressure on existing resources such as health services and education. ECONOMIC BENEFITS
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Migrants take up less desirable jobs
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Host country gains skilled labour at reduced cost
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'Skills gap' in host country may be filled by qualified migrant workers
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Retirement costs are transferred back to the source country SOCIAL COSTS
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Discrimination against minorities leads to civil unrest and political extremism
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The dominance of males is reinforced, especially in countries where the status of women is low, e.g., Persian Gulf states
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Aspects of cultural identity are lost, particularly among second and third generation migrants
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Segregated areas of similar ethnic groups are created, and schools become dominated by migrant children SOCAIL BENEFITS
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Creation of a multicultural society increases awareness, respect and understanding of other cultures
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Influx of new and revitalised community services and businesses, e.g. corner shops and Turkish baths
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Growth of ethnic retailing and areas associated with ethnic food and textile outlets, e.g. fabric shops in Manningham, Bradford Check this link on the impact of Economic Migration http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2019385.stm