3.5C - Costs and Benefits of Migration
Migration has economic, social, political and environmental costs and benefits for both host and source locations.
. |
Economic |
Social |
Political |
Environmental |
Source - Benefits |
Remittances boost the incomes of families. (25% of Nepal's GDP in 2014) Less unemployment (Polish employment halved since it joined the EU in 2004) |
Contact with other cultures |
Reduces pressure of large population. More habitats, more sustainable - less demand for commodities. |
|
Source - Costs |
Loss of skilled and educated workers (brain drain) Negative multiplier effect |
Families are broken up as young males tend to migrate. Older people can't see family and may have no one to care for them. |
Mass emigration can be seen as a failure to provide for people at home. Governing party lose popularity and face difficult decisions. |
Deterioration of built environment. |
Host - Benefits |
Migrants filling low wage, dirty or difficult work, e.g. Polish vegetable pickers near Peterborough. They fill skills shortages (Indian doctors) |
Contact with a different culture Counteract ageing population Cheap care, cleaning.... |
Government may benefit from popularity due to the increased economic benefits from migrants. |
Value |
Host - Costs |
Increase cost of education - staff need to be employed for those with first language not English. 'Benefits tourists' Undercutting |
Social tensions Demand for education, health and housing rises. |
Cultural tensions with migrant population |
Can lead to demand for more housing and therefore loss of green space and possible overcrowding. Built environments deteriorate. Expansion of urban areas. |