International Migration: Impacts on Origin & Destination
Factors That Promote and Restrict International Migration
Several factors promote international migration. Primarily, people move to improve their living conditions and employment opportunities. The differences in the demographic rhythms of developed and developing countries act as an intense and permanent impulse for emigration.
However, some factors restrict international migration. These include political obstacles, particularly when cultures are vastly different, or when it is difficult to assimilate the culture and customs of the destination country. Under such circumstances, the creation of ghettos could be a natural consequence. Additionally, negative reactions to immigrants may arise when the host country cannot create enough employment for all. Consequently, unemployed immigrants may face marginalization or even resort to crime.
Advantages of Migration for Recipient Countries
The main advantages of migrants for recipient countries include:
- Economic Advantage: Migrants increase the labor supply, especially if their education was funded by their country of origin.
- Labor Market Flexibility: Migrants help eliminate bottlenecks in the labor market, an effect that will become increasingly important due to the aging population in developed countries. This demographic shift will reduce the number of people contributing to welfare systems.
- Increased Mobility: Weaker geographical and family ties allow migrants to be more mobile, both geographically and functionally. Adjustments in the labor market during recessions can be facilitated by migrants returning to their countries of origin.
- Wage Competitiveness: The competition introduced by migrant labor can exert downward pressure on wages, enhancing competitiveness and potentially leading to job creation.
Advantages of Migration for Countries of Origin
From the perspective of the country of origin, some advantages include:
- Economic Benefits: Migration can alleviate unemployment and social tensions.
- Remittances: Income from remittances serves as an important source of external financing.
Main Problem of Migration for Countries of Origin
The primary problem of migration for the country of origin is the “brain drain.” This phenomenon can severely harm economic development, as those who emigrate first are often the best-trained, the risk-takers, and those with an entrepreneurial attitude.
Sources of Human Capital: Spain’s Position
Human capital has five main sources:
- Parents’ education
- School
- Universities
- Adult education
- On-the-job learning
Spain’s position in human capital compared to other countries is quite good, ranking 11th. Schooling is a fundamental factor, as a high level of training within the population is crucial for economic progress. However, Spain has lower figures in adult education and university attainment.
Outputs of the Educational System and Their Measurement
The two main outputs of the educational system are performance and equity.
- Performance can be evaluated through international exams.
- Equity, understood as equality of opportunity regardless of social background, can be evaluated using statistical techniques with microdata. These techniques measure the influence of students’ socioeconomic backgrounds on their academic results.