Understanding Global Migration: Causes and Economic Impacts

Economic Rights and Global Emigration

The great migrations, although present throughout history, have acquired an extraordinary magnitude in recent years.

Causes of Migration

The causes that compel an individual or a significant group to migrate are varied, but perhaps the most determinant have always been economic.

• Economic Factors: Humans seek places where they can achieve a better life for themselves or their descendants.
• Political, Religious, and Ideological Factors: In many states, thousands of people are persecuted for their political ideas or religious beliefs, leading them to seek exile in other free countries.
• Climatic Factors: Climatic changes throughout history have led to significant migration from very cold or very hot places to areas with milder temperatures.
• War and Natural Disasters: Wars, natural disasters, and catastrophes cause large movements of populations for the duration of the conflict or catastrophe.
• Family and Social Networks: The influence of family or friends encouraging regrouping from one place to another is key.

The Push-Pull Effect of Migration

• Push Factors: This refers to the rejection people feel towards continuing to live in the prevailing conditions of their home country.
• Pull Factors: This describes the strong seduction produced by a place or country that drives people to migrate and live there.

The greater the differences between the origin and destination, the greater the incentive to emigrate. Despite the risks involved, migrants believe that the final reward can be greater. Active policies against mass emigration often aim to reduce inequalities between origin and reception areas.

Economic Consequences of Emigration

• Increased Global Economic Growth: Migrant workers often produce more in their host countries than in their home countries, contributing to higher global economic growth.
• Wage Convergence: Wages in origin areas usually increase because the available labor force is reduced by emigration, while wages in the destination place may decrease due to the increased labor supply.
• Increased Remittances: Revenue for source countries increases through money transfers (remittances) from migrants to their families in their home country.
• Increased Tax and Social Security Contributions: Recipient countries see increased short-term income tax and social security payments, as the migrating population is typically young and healthy, and uses fewer social services initially.
• Growth in Host Countries: Host countries experience growth due to the influx of more workers, which allows production to have a greater chance of expansion and innovation.