Misconceptions of being an emigrant as a burden : The bright side of migration
Migration is the movement of people from one permanent home to another. This movement changes the population of a place. An Oxford Economics study published by the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) in 2009 concluded that migrant workers had helped maintain a sufficient labour supply to fuel the 2004–2008 economic boom. The availability of migrant labour appeared to have made the difference between some businesses surviving, or not needing to relocate production abroad (especially in the case of food processing). The authors quote a survey of 600 businesses where 31% said that migrants were important in the survival of their organization; this rose to 50% in health and social care and agriculture. Thus, openness to newcomers is morally right, economically beneficial and culturally enriching. Let us all refrain from thinking that emigrants cause burden to the host country that they move in.
Moreover, the freedom to move is fundamentally important. It enables people to flee persecution, seek a better life, be with the ones they love or simply broaden their horizons. It is argued that emigrants often arrive with little wealth so have a greater incentive to try and make something for themselves. Also, people who are willing to leave a country and try in a foreign company are the most ambitious and willing to take risks and a result tend to be the more dynamic part of the workforce. Emigrants who are young and mobile are also quite likely to be entrepreneurs – set up businesses which create innovative products. The American economy is an example of how immigrants have moved to America and set up classic American companies – leading to higher living standards and a greater choice of goods and services. For example, (Apple) Steve Job’s father – Abdul Fattah Jandali was from Syria. Alexander Graham Bell (telephone AT&T) from Scotland. Jeff Bezos (Amazon) son of a Cuban immigrant. Sergey Brin (Google) is a Russian immigrant.
Another reason why we should look at the brighter side of migration is that by allowing people to move from poorer countries to richer ones that have more capital, superior technologies and better institutions it boosts their productivity and that of the global economy. This is largely because migrants are different from natives of a country, and their differences tend to complement local needs and conditions. Some are more willing to do jobs that locals spurn, such as picking fruit or caring for the elderly. Others have skills that natives lack. Migration brings big gains to recipient countries and provides an opportunity for a better life to migrants. Their diverse perspectives help spark new ideas. In both America and Britain migrants are twice as likely to start a business as locals. Around half of Silicon Valley startups, including Google, LinkedIn, Tesla and Stripe, were co-founded by immigrants. That’s why they should allow people to move to richer countries because a lot of people struggled and they can’t do anything. There are just things that we can’t solve and their lives will just going to get worst if we won’t do anything.
Return migration can have multiple benefits. Returning migrants bring savings, skills and international contacts. It allows migrants who have accumulated savings abroad to ease credit constraints at home and set up their own business. Migrants also acquire skills abroad that allow them to earn higher wages than non-migrants when they return. According to the University of Southampton, UK, between 1960 and 2010, migrants from developing to developed countries rose from 16% of total migrants to 35%. The share of migrants between developing countries is almost as large, at 34%, and has been more stable over time. Nonetheless, international migration is typically from low-income to higher-income economies, even when the flows are between developing countries. Remittances go straight into people’s pockets, pay for better education and health, and are used to start businesses. Migrants who return home also bring with them capital and new ideas.
In conclusion, migration should be continued because migration is important for the transfer of manpower and skills and it provides the needed knowledge and innovation for global growth. Throughout history, we have migrated in search of new opportunities, as well as to escape persecution, conflict and poverty. Movements of people happen all around the world. Today people are moving more than ever before. There are presently around 258 million international migrants. That figure has grown rapidly since the turn of the millennium, when there were 173 million. We can see changes like human rights, advancing technology and climate change. Newcomers also enrich the cultures of their host communities, and those who return to their countries of origin bring back new skills and ideas. All people are born with fundamental rights and dignity. That includes migrants. It is time for us to accept and understand these impacts.
References:
EMBRACE Committee. (n.d.). The pros and cons of migration. Retrieved December 2, 2020, from https://www.embraceni.org/migration/the-pros-and-cons-of-migration/
DESA. (n.d.-a). Global importance of migration for development | UN DESA | United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Welcome to the United Nations. Retrieved December 2, 2020, from https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/importance-of-migration.html
Pettinger, T. (14 C.E.). Pros and cons of Immigration - Economics Help. Economics Help; https://www.facebook.com/economicshelp.org/. https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/152453/economics/pros-and-cons-of-immigration/
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