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Migration in an Advanced Country (AC) UK - Coggle Diagram
Migration in an Advanced Country (AC) UK
Background and current patterns of immigration and emigration
In 2022 - net migration to the UK was 606,000, with 190,000 nin Eu citizens and 180,000 Eu citizens
Immigration = 1.2 million into UK and emigration = 557,000
Migration corridors and flows
Immigration --> 925,000 non EU national --> 150,000 from the EU
The size of foreign born population in the UK has increased from 3.8 million (1993) to over 10 million (2022) approximatly 14.8% of total population
India --> UK =896,000
Poland --> UK = 696,000
Migration policies
Historically the UK had a much more open-door migration policy with particular freedom for ex colonies
EU Freedom of Movement (since 1992) - as a member state of the EU, following the Maastricht Treaty.
Non EU Migrant Introduced a cap on non EU immigration since 2005 - running a points based system and differing VISA's
Brexit - the Uk voted in the referendum in 2016 to move away from freedom of movement
New immigration system - as of 1st January 2021, EU citizens are now subject to the same rules as non EU citizens - freedom of movement has ended. Under new system all foreign nationals will be treated equally.
New points-based immigration system and visas
To qualify for a visa migrant works will need 70pts
Having a job offer and being able to speak english - 50 points
If the job pays >£26,000, 20 points
Qualifications (PhD's in science, engineering) - 20 points
Job in shortage occupation—20 points
Inter-dependence with Countries Linked to the UK by Migration
Cultural Connectivity - with large diasporas of EU residents living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU this links these countries/regions socio-culturally and increases links – language, multi-culturalism, food etc. For example, in 2016 299,000 Germans lived in the UK and 150,00 UK residents were living in Germany à bi-lateral flows. You can still migrate to Europe but there is more ‘red tape’ and visas required to visit/move there.
European Union – creates economic & political inter-dependence. We were part of the European Union. Beyond migration the EU creates economic inter-dependence through bi-lateral free-trade. Approximately 44% of UK exports went to other EU countries - £220 billion total exports. However, since Brexit, trade is no longer free and comply with new customs procedures and checks e.g. tariffs and quotas.
Political Inter-Dependence – the EU has a parliament in Strasberg, represented by MEPs from each country. There has, for example, been inter-governmental co-operation on terrorism à EU counter-terrorism strategy. Another example is the European Climate Change Programme. However, since Brexit, the UK now has more political freedom to decide its own laws.
Opportunities created by Migration
Economic
Migrants made a net fiscal contribution of £5.2 billion – paying 3% more into the system than they took out
· EU migrants contributed £15bn more in income tax, than they claimed in benefits
· Migrants increase labour supply – this in turn increases consumer demand and thus stimulates the wider economy
· Only 1% of migrants claim unemployment benefits, compared to 4% of UK nationals
· ‘Lump labour fallacy’ - the number of jobs in the economy is not fixed and migrants actually create new jobs as they start businesses (17.2% of new migrants set up their own business) and also spend their disposable income à ‘trickle-down’ effect created
· Foreign students contribute £8 billion to the economy per year
· Fill skills-gap – migration fill gaps in professions including – engineering, medicine, aerospace – 37% of migrants have a degree
Demographic
Net immigration reduces dependency-ratios (migrants tend to be much younger) by approximately 3.5%
· Immigration helps avoid a ‘pensions time-bomb’ created by an ageing population
· Immigration is responsible for 60% of the UK’s population growth between 2001-2020
· 2019 - 70% of migrants of a working age
Social
Health – immigrants have been vital in maintaining the NHS – 36% of GP’s & 10% of nurses, for example, are foreign born
· Migrants don’t put a strain on the UK’s services – for example, migrants currently account for only 0.1% of total NHS expenditure (partly due to the fact that migrants are typically young)
Challenges created by Migration
Economic
· Migrants net fiscal cost of £14 billion in 2016/17
· Remittance – loss of potential economic benefits as £1.9b were sent out from the UK in 2017
· Dustmann (2013) found that immigration depresses the pay of the 20% lowest paid UK-born workers
· New research suggests immigration affects unemployment rates – for every 100 non-EU migrants entering the UK, caused a loss of 23 jobs
· UK is the only EU country to have a lower unemployment rate for migrants than nationals – 7.5% vs 7.9%
Demographic
Migration Watch argues that the current scale of migration to the UK (606,000 per yr) is demographically unsustainable – creating ‘overpopulation’ – link with overstretched services
· TFR for women born in the UK was 1.51 children per women (2020), whereas the TFR of non-UK born women TFR was 2.1. Therefore, migration contributes to this population growth.
· …. variations within this, some migrant groups within the UK have much higher TFRs (Pakistani women = 3.5) and others lower (Poland 2.1)
· 1 in 4 children born in the UK is to a foreign born mother – birth rates increases has put pressure on NHS maternity services.
Social
Education - migration has also placed pressure on school places – 60% of local authorities will have a shortage of primary school places by 2018
· UK has a serious housing supply issue & migration is a contributing factor. Immigration can reduce housing stocks and some estimates suggest that we will need to build 135,000 per yr just to house new migrants & their families.
· Social cohesion – immigration in some communities is having a negative impact on social cohesion and can create tension à rise of political extremism and racism.