Population change 3 Case Study - Migration Eastern Europeans to the UK today

1.1 What is demographic change? The net change in the population store caused by the inputs of births and in-migration and the outputs of death and out-migration. Global population growth, totals, distribution and density How and why do populations change naturally? A study of countries at Stages 2-5 of the demographic transition to demonstrate variations in fertility and mortality rates, including infant mortality and life expectancy. 1.3 What is the role of migration in population change? Characteristics of different types of migration. The economic, social and environmental impacts of migration on exporting and receiving countries/regions. 1.4 What are the issues of the migration of refugees and asylum seekers? The causes and consequences of flows of refugees and asylum seekers into developed economies both from a historical and current dimension. Housing. Repatriation. The attitudes and values of migrants and hosts. Human rights.

1.5 What are the causes and impacts of changing gender structures? Changing gender structures in populations as countries pass through the demographic transition. Social, economic and political impacts of gender structures. 1.6 What are the demographic challenges facing countries? The demographic causes and effects of ageing societies including issues such as dependency, workforce and pensions. The issues of high birth rates and high mortality rates – including AIDS. Policies to alleviate the ‘demographic challenges’

Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers It is important that you are able to distinguish between these three categories. Migrants are people who are moving from one place to another. Refugees are people who are fleeing for their lives from unfortunate life- threatening circumstances, either natural (volcano, drought, floods) or human (war, persecution etc.) Asylum seekers are people who are trying to enter a country for permanent or temporary residence using the argument that their life would be in danger if they were to return to their own country. Some people are trying to get away from extreme poverty in their own country and claim persecution but are really seeking economic gain. These are termed economic migrants or economic refugees.

An example of voluntary migration

The table is taken from ‘The Sun’ trying to illustrate why so many people from Eastern Europe have come to Britain in recent years. They are obviously economic migrants. In migrating they are obviously bettering themselves and their families back home, but also contributing to the economic health of the UK by expanding the economy here. However there are other effects such as issues regarding local unemployment, housing supply, education for migrants families, cultural integration etc.

Why are they able to come? Over the years the European Union has been expanding to take in new countries Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, West Germany, Italy, France 1973 United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland 1980 Greece 1985 Spain, Portugal 1995 Sweden, Austria, Finland 2004 Poland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. (called the A8 – acceding countries), Malta and Cyprus 2007 Romania and Bulgaria Turkey, Croatia and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have also applied to join. Within Europe there is freedom of movement for workers, so that UK workers have the right to go to Germany, Finland etc. to work and workers from others states have the right to come here.

The map shows the distribution of migrant workers from the A8, i.e. the following countries which acceded to the EU in Poland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. Workers from the A8 had to register in order to be able to work here, and so migrant flows are easily mapped and monitored.

This map shows the IPPR's estimates of how many A8 nationals are currently in each local authority, proportional to the local population. Seen in this way, locations with big total migrant populations - such as London - have not experienced as dramatic an influx as other parts of the UK such as the East of England. The IPPR has used a range of official data, including the Worker Registration Scheme, and its own research to produce the estimates

This graph shows the number of applications accepted or refused for the Worker Registration Scheme up to 2007.

Where did they come from?

And what age were they? The majority were aged meaning that the UK was attracting energetic, enterprising young people. However other countries were perhaps losing out on a good workforce.

Where did they go? It wasn’t London that received the vast majority of migrants (against expectations). Many moved to rural locations to work in agricultural jobs (fruit picking or packing). This meant that many areas without a previous history of receiving migrants were now having to cope with a large number. However many rural businesses were doing well out of the hardworking relatively cheap migrants.

Also some employers had made the connection between where the migrants were going and the location of airports which offered low cost flights to Poland etc.

In 2003, only three UK airports served Poland: Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester. And passengers could only fly to and from Krakow and Warsaw. In 2008, 22 UK airports are linked to 10 in Poland. Many of the flights are with low-cost airlines, meaning migrant workers can travel to and from the UK with relative ease. Some 10 million people flew between the UK and the A8 and A2 countries in 2007, a three-fold increase in traffic since pre-enlargement. This reflects an increase in migration, tourism and trade in both directions.

What sort of work were they doing? According to the government the migrants were working in the sectors where there was a shortage of local workers, e.g. agriculture. However in truth this was not totally true. As can be seen from the graph there was a wide range of sectors which received migrants. Many work in transport, e.g. Bus-drivers, train drivers, airports etc.

HOW MANY HAVE GONE? How long are they staying? Much of the migration has been temporary as can be seen from the graphs.

Where are they from?

Economic and social effects? It is hard to work out the costs to the UK of this migration when com[pared to the positive elements which occur because of migration, e.g. extra taxes. One major issue which has received attention in the press is the demand for extra homes for migration, shortage of homes for UK citizens and numbers of migrants who receive benefits. But according to the government the numbers are low. Since 2004 only 4,400 migrants have received benefits of any kind. Another worry are the number of families who will be following the workers, who will then be dependent on the country. This figure has also fallen recently.

This graph shows the number of workers with dependent families.

AdvantagesDisadvantages Young energetic workforce A cross section of necessary skills Filling gaps in the economy Prepared to work for lower wages Work long hours Share history and culture Some are skilled workers Promotes the local economy More taxes for central government Pressure on local jobs Conflict Racial tension Linguistic problems Lack of integration Pressure on housing Pressure on services, e.g. schools The advantages and disadvantages of workers from Eastern Europe.

Extra costs to the UK because of Eastern European migration according to the Daily Mail.