International migration

International migration occurs when peoples cross state boundaries and stay in the host state
for some minimum length of time. Migration occurs for many reasons. Many people leave their
home countries in order to look for economic opportunities in another country. Others migrate to
be with family members who have migrated or because of political conditions in their countries.
Education is another reason for international migration, as students pursue their studies abroad.
While there are several different potential systems for categorizing international migrants, one
system organizes them into nine groups: temporary labour migrants; irregular, illegal, or
undocumented migrants; highly skilled and business migrants; irregular migrants;
refugees; asylum seekers; forced migration; family members; return migrants; and long-
term, low-skilled migrants. These migrants can also be divided into two large groups,
permanent and temporary. Permanent migrants intend to establish their permanent residence
in a new country and possibly obtain that country’s citizenship. Temporary migrants intend only
to stay for a limited periods of time; perhaps until the end of a particular program of study or for the
duration of a their work contract or a certain work season. Both types of migrants have a
significant effect on the economies and societies of the chosen destination country and the country
of origin.

Similarly, the countries which receive these migrants are often grouped into four categories:
traditional settlement countries, European countries which encouraged labour migration after
World War II, European countries which receive a significant portion of their immigrant populations
from their former colonies, and countries which formerly were points of emigration but have
recently emerged as immigrant destinations.

Incentives for migration

Push Factors Pull Factors

• Poor Medical Care
• Chances of getting a job
• Not enough jobs
• Better living standards
• Few opportunities
• Enjoyment
• Primitive Conditions
• Education
• Political fear
• Better Medical Care
• Fear of torture and mistreatment
• Security
• Religious discrimination
• Family Links
• Loss of wealth
• Lower crime
• Natural disasters
• Better chances of finding courtship
• Lower chances of finding courtship

CONSEQUENCES OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATIONS

They affect in a different way to issuing countries and host countries.

• Demographic consequences: issuing countries decrease their population and this

population will age in the future because emigrants are young people; instead, host
countries grow and rejuvenate their population, increasing birth and decreasing mortality.

• Economic consequences for issuing countries are an unemployment reduction and the
arrival of money sent by the emigrants to their families; host countries receive labour for
doing the hardest and less qualified jobs and increase the consumption of goods and
services.

• Social consequences for issuing countries are the decrease of social unrest and society
´s modernization. Host countries receive population with a different physical appearance,
language, culture and customs and become multicultural societies. This fact could generate
some problems, such as misfits, bad working conditions and inequality of rights; arising of
racism and xenophobia, and the increase of migration controls.

EXERCICES

1.- Make a list with possible causes for migrations.

2.- Explain the push and pull factors for migrations.

3.- Make a square with the advantages and disadvantages of migrations for issuing countries and
host countries.

4.- Explain why migration increases birth and slightly decreases mortality in host countries.

5.- Make a comparative square with causes and consequences of international migrations.