‘Global migration is creating more poverty.’ Evaluate this view
CAMBRIDGE
A level and AS level
2022
👑Complete Model Essay
Free Essay Plan
Introduction
Briefly introduce the topic of global migration and poverty. State that the essay will evaluate the view that global migration creates more poverty.
Arguments in Support of the View
Exploitation and Poverty Amongst Migrants
Marxist perspective: Exploitation of migrant workers by capitalist class in core countries. Discuss precarious working conditions, low wages, and limited rights.
Gap between expectations and reality: Many migrants experience poverty and hardship despite aspirations for a better life.
Negative Impacts on Host Communities
Wage depression: Availability of cheap migrant labor potentially lowers wages for native-born workers.
Strain on resources: Increased demand for housing, healthcare, and education can strain public services.
Negative Impacts on Countries of Origin
Brain drain: Emigration of skilled and educated individuals weakens developing economies.
Remittances not a sustainable solution: While remittances can alleviate poverty, they don't address underlying structural issues.
Arguments Against the View
Success Stories and Upward Mobility
Examples of migrants achieving economic success: Highlight cases of migrants improving their living standards and contributing positively to host societies.
Opportunities for advancement: Some migrants gain access to education, training, and career opportunities not available in their home countries.
Benefits to Host and Sending Countries
Neoliberal perspective: Migration can boost economic growth in both receiving and sending countries through increased labor supply, consumer demand, and knowledge transfer.
Functionalist perspective: Assimilation and integration of migrants can lead to a more diverse and dynamic society.
Filling labor shortages: Migrants often take on jobs that locals are unwilling to do, contributing to economic productivity.
Conclusion
Summarize the main arguments presented. Provide a nuanced evaluation of the view that global migration creates more poverty. Acknowledge the complexity of the issue and the need for policies that address both the challenges and opportunities presented by global migration.
Global Migration: A Catalyst for Poverty?
The assertion that global migration exacerbates poverty is a complex issue with far-reaching implications. While it is true that migration can present challenges for both sending and receiving societies, a nuanced analysis suggests that the relationship between migration and poverty is not inherently causal. This essay will evaluate the view that global migration creates more poverty, considering evidence from both sides of the argument.
The Case for Migration as a Driver of Poverty
Proponents of the view that global migration fuels poverty often highlight the struggles faced by many migrants. There is ample evidence documenting the harsh realities of migrant life, including poverty, inadequate housing, exploitative working conditions, social isolation, and discrimination. These hardships can be attributed to various factors, such as limited language proficiency, lack of access to social services, and prejudice from the host population.
Marxist sociologists provide a structural critique, arguing that global capitalism perpetuates poverty by exploiting migrant workers. From this perspective, migrants represent a readily available, low-wage labor pool that benefits wealthy elites in developed nations. The presence of such a workforce can also depress wages for native-born workers, potentially pushing them into poverty. The "brain drain" phenomenon, where skilled workers leave developing countries for better opportunities abroad, further disadvantages sending nations, hindering their economic growth and development.
Furthermore, the disillusionment experienced by some migrants who find that the reality of life in the host country falls short of their expectations lends credence to the argument that migration can exacerbate poverty. The financial and emotional costs of migration, coupled with the challenges of integration, can trap individuals in a cycle of poverty.
Challenging the Narrative: Potential Benefits of Migration
Conversely, there are compelling arguments against viewing global migration solely as a driver of poverty. While acknowledging the challenges, it is crucial to recognize that migration can also present opportunities for upward mobility. Some migrants do achieve economic success and a higher quality of life in their adopted countries. They contribute to the economies of both sending and receiving nations through remittances, entrepreneurship, and filling labor market gaps.
Neoliberal perspectives, for instance, emphasize the potential economic benefits of migration. They argue that the free flow of labor allows individuals to pursue opportunities and contribute to global economic growth. This perspective suggests that migration can benefit both sending and receiving countries, leading to higher overall prosperity.
Functionalist theories further posit that successful integration of migrants, facilitated by overcoming cultural barriers and promoting social cohesion, can lead to positive outcomes for all members of society. They highlight the potential for cultural exchange, innovation, and economic dynamism that arises from a diverse and integrated society.
Moreover, migrants often fill crucial labor shortages in sectors where native-born workers are scarce. They contribute to the economies of host nations by providing essential services and supporting economic growth. Additionally, the skills and capital acquired by migrants can be valuable assets upon their return to their countries of origin, potentially contributing to development and poverty reduction.
Conclusion: A Nuanced Perspective
In conclusion, while there is evidence to support the claim that global migration can contribute to poverty, particularly for vulnerable migrant populations, this view risks oversimplification. It neglects the agency of migrants, the potential for upward mobility, and the multifaceted economic and social benefits associated with migration.
Ultimately, the relationship between migration and poverty is complex and context-dependent. While acknowledging the challenges, it is essential to adopt a balanced perspective that recognizes the potential for both positive and negative outcomes. Addressing the structural factors that contribute to poverty, ensuring the protection of migrant rights, and promoting inclusive societies are crucial steps toward harnessing the potential benefits of migration while mitigating its potential downsides.
**Sources:** * Castles, S., & Miller, M. J. (2009). The age of migration: International population movements in the modern world. Palgrave Macmillan. * Portes, A. (Ed.). (2010). Economic sociology: A systematic inquiry. Princeton University Press. * Massey, D. S., Arango, J., Hugo, G., Kouaouci, A., Pellegrino, A., & Taylor, J. E. (1993). Theories of international migration. Population and Development Review, 19(3), 431-466.Free Mark Scheme Extracts
Global migration is creating more poverty. Evaluate this view.
The question focuses on who benefits from global migration. In particular, does migration result in a higher standard of living for those who would otherwise be poor or is it creating more poverty, among migrants and/or among host communities/countries of origin? While global migration may take many forms, sociological investigation has focused mainly on migration from less economically developed countries to richer countries in America, Europe, and some wealthier parts of Asia and the Middle East.
Marxist sociologists argue that global migration only benefits the capitalist class and the core countries at the center of the global capitalist system. Migrant workers are exploited and remain trapped in poverty. The existence of migrant labor also serves to reduce the bargaining power of workers in the indigenous population, leading to a decline in living standards and increased poverty. The drain of young and talented workers from poor countries to rich countries may also undermine the economic and social fabric of the less economically developed countries.
By contrast to the Marxist view, assimilation theory suggests that both migrants and the societies in which they settle can benefit from global migration if the migrants fully immerse themselves in the culture of the host society. Neoliberals also argue that global migration has potentially positive economic, political, and cultural benefits for both receiving and sending societies.
For:
- There is much evidence to suggest that the vast majority of migrants have difficult lives, often experiencing poverty, poor housing, long hours of grueling work, social dislocation, and prejudice from people in the host community.
- Many migrants report a gap between their expectations of living and working in a more economically developed country and the reality of being a migrant worker.
- Marxist sociologists emphasize the economic and social benefits that wealthy elites in advanced capitalist societies derive from global migration through exploiting migrant workers.
- The availability of migrant labor may undermine wage rates in the host community, spreading poverty among the working class in the indigenous population.
- Migration of young and able workers from poor countries to rich countries may hinder less economically developed countries in overcoming global inequality.
Against:
- Some migrants achieve an attractive lifestyle in the country of reception and benefit from opportunities provided to migrant workers in more economically developed countries.
- Political backlash against global migration in richer countries can have destabilizing effects politically and economically, which may not be in the interests of the wealthy elites.
- Neoliberals argue that global migration can bring about economic growth benefiting both receiving and sending societies.
- Functionalists believe that all could benefit socially and economically from global migration if cultural barriers to assimilation could be overcome.
- Migrants often fill vacancies that indigenous workers would not apply for, do not directly compete for jobs with the local workforce, and may actually help create jobs and lift people out of poverty upon returning to their country of origin with savings.