Migration Pack E

Question 1

How can migration increase the power of superpowers?

Answer 1

• Fill labour shortages
• Wiling to work in unskilled or low paid jobs
• Also required in skilled professions
• MNCs are keen to invest in areas with a diverse population and employ highly skilled migration

Question 2

What are the examples of migrants in superpowers?

Answer 2

• 20,000 Indian doctors in the UK
• 200,000 workers from the Philippines in the UK
• American CEO of Deliveroo
• Indian-American CEO of AstraZeneca

Question 3

How can migration reduce inequalities?

Answer 3

• Remittances reduce poverty and increase spending in the source country
• Multiplier effect as money is spent on goods and services which then becomes income for another

Question 4

What are some examples of remittances?

Answer 4

• India received $135 billion in remittances in 2024
• 50% of Tonga’s GDP in 2022
• 40% of Lebanon’s GDP in 2022
• 35% of Samoa’s GDP in 2022
• Philippines benefitted in 2008 global financial crises (10% of GDP)

Question 5

How can migration increase inequalities?

Answer 5

• Brain drain in source countries (e.g. Indian professionals moving to US tech industries)
• Lack of spending by those who have left slows economic growth
• Economic losses where people were paid for and trained by source country only to leave
• Government might then reduce spending on economic activity
• Skilled workers benefit richer countries with their skills and ideas

Question 6

How can migration cause conflict?

Answer 6

• Migrants may not integrate which causes social conflict in the host country
• People in host country may believe that migrants are taking local jobs
• Pressure on schools and hospitals creates financial burden
• Conflict if migrants are forced to return home

Question 7

How can migration promote growth and stability?

Answer 7

• Labour shortages are filled to promote growth in host nation
• New labour force works for lower wages leading to higher profits
• New migrants open up new businesses
• Economy is boosted by extra spending
• Remittances boost local economy of source country
• Migrants take skills and idea when they return home

Question 8

How can migration cause interdependency?

Answer 8

• Remittances sent to source countries generate a % of GDP
• Pay for education and health
• Creates diaspora communities
• Political partnerships may form
• Increased cooperation to tackle shared environmental threats

Question 9

What is an examaple of interdependency?

Answer 9

• EU forming
• Movement of scientists across the EU

Question 10

What are the benefits of interdependency?

Answer 10

• Reduce conflict
• Geopolitical ties with diaspora countries of origin

Question 11

What are the risks of interdependency?

Answer 11

• Source economy can decrease if there are problems in host
• Threats to nation’s sovereignty as viewed by citizens

Question 12

What are the examples of the risks of interdependency?

Answer 12

• Estonia’s GDP decreased 13% due to 2009 recession in the UK
• Increased nationalism in the UK

Question 13

Why is there migration from Sri Lanka to the Middle East?

Answer 13

• Women migrate
• Low incomes
• Lack of employment opportunities
• Gender discrimination

Question 14

What is migrant life described as modern slavery in the Middle East?

Answer 14

• Migrants have to surrender their passports to employer
• Actual salaries are much lower than expected
• Working conditions are poor
• Have to live in an employer’s residence as a condition of visa
• Less autonomy and can be called on for labour at any hour
• Physical, psychological, sexual abuse
• Denial of contact with family and friends

Question 15

What is migration like to Qatar and the UAE?

Answer 15

• 40% of migrant population in UAE is from India and Pakistan
• 80% of Qatar’s population is migrants
• Men and women migrate
• Qatar Kafala system sponsors the employment of foreign workers through an employer and requires a visa

Question 16

What is migrant life in Qatar and the UAE like?

Answer 16

• High casualty rates = 10,000 migrant worker deaths per year
• Job contracts are dishonoured
• Sponsor retains their passport
• Cannot change job without sponsor approval
• Long hours in poor conditions
• No sick pay
• 1/3 of the salaries of other Qatar workers
• Local laws not enforced

Question 17

Why is the migration from Nepal?

Answer 17

• 15% live overseas
• 25% of GDP is from remittances
• Move to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE for construction and service jobs
• Move to Malaysia for plantation work
• Internet and recruiting agencies provides info
• Push factors are outdated agricultural practices, landless people, poor governance, poverty, natural hazards and poor living conditions

Question 18

What are the benefits of migration from Nepal?

Answer 18

• Reduces population pressure and unemployment
• Remittances are 29% of GDP
• Solves rural unemployment problem

Question 19

How did the Nepalese government respond to the conditions in Qatar?

Answer 19

• Nepali ambassador called it an ‘open jail’
• Government didn’t challenge working conditions

Question 20

Why was there migration from Poland to the UK?

Answer 20

• Britain was 1 of 3 countries that didn’t place limits on number of migrants from A8 countries
• Tech advances made it more accessible to travel so easier migration
• UK had skill shortages so plenty of jobs

Question 21

What are the impact of Poles moving back to Poland from the UK?

Answer 21

• 1 million Poles in the UK in 2017 to 700,000 now
• Labour shortages in the UK
• Less pressure on services
• Increased spending in Poland
• Skills transfer
• Cultural exchange
• Pressure on services
• Fill labour gaps

Question 22

What is Laos like?

Answer 22

• Landlocked LIC in SE Asia
• GDP per capita of $2000
• 70% of people working in agriculture in 2023
• Net migration loss (to Thailand, France, USA)

Question 23

Why is there migration to Thailand from Laos?

Answer 23

• Subsistence farmers with low incomes
• Drought causes food insecurity
• 5% of land has seen landgrabbing as government loans it to private investors
• Range of opportunities overseas as Thailand has gaps in labour market
• Salaries in Thailand are 3x as high
• Similar languages
• 5 friendship bridges across Mekong river
• Migrant brokers help Laotians move and get jobs

Question 24

What are the the impacts of migration from Laos to Thailand?

Answer 24

• Multiplier effect from remittances in rural areas
• Improved political relations
• Joint infrastructure projects (e.g. train lines, dams, HEP)
• Women in poverty being trafficked to Thailand and China
• Expensive anti-trafficking work
• Laos garment industry has labour gaps

Question 25

How is there interdependence between Laos and Thailand?

Answer 25

- Thailand can fill its gaps in agriculture, construction and fishing - Makes up 2% of GDP - Works together to reduce trafficking (shared information)

Question 26

What are the responses to migration from Laos to Thailand?

Answer 26

- ASEAN free trade bloc - Has migration policies that allow movement of people that have worked in Laos for 5 years

Question 27

What are examples of conflicting views on migration in the UK?

Answer 27

- Immigration was one of the main issues influencing the vote in the 2016 referendum - 52% of UK adults believe more migrants should be admitted for highly skilled jobs and 40% said fewer lower-skilled migrants in 2017 poll - Areas with higher numbers of migrants are more accepting - Fear of losing a national identity through too much migration had increased support for nationalist parties (e.g. Reform)