MIGRATION AND ECONOMICS Zoltan Grossman, The Evergreen State College

Types of migration Emigration (from) or immigration (to)Emigration (from) or immigration (to) Voluntary or involuntary (forced)Voluntary or involuntary (forced) International (between countries)International (between countries) or internal (within a country). or internal (within a country). Documented or undocumentedDocumented or undocumented

Migration flows

Push factors Violence (war or high crime)Violence (war or high crime) Poor economyPoor economy Ethnic or religious persecutionEthnic or religious persecution Degraded resources or poor weatherDegraded resources or poor weather

Pull factors Peace (or more security)Peace (or more security) Economic opportunities/ good servicesEconomic opportunities/ good services Freedom of expressionFreedom of expression Better sense of place or weatherBetter sense of place or weather

Intervening obstacles Restrictions on immigrationRestrictions on immigration Bias against immigrantsBias against immigrants Distance and lack of moneyDistance and lack of money Cultural unfamiliarityCultural unfamiliarity

VOLUNTARY MIGRATION Gross migrationGross migration –Total number of migrants Net migrationNet migration –Gain or loss as result of migration

Chain migration Family/friends write home, attract new immigrantsFamily/friends write home, attract new immigrants Family reunificationsFamily reunifications “Secondary migration” to new home in adopted country“Secondary migration” to new home in adopted country

“Guest workers” Temporary employmentTemporary employment Send money homeSend money home Kids become citizens?Kids become citizens? Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong, 1990s Turks in Germany, 1980s Mexican“braceros” in U.S., 1950s

“Brain Drain” Educated, skilled migrate for better jobsEducated, skilled migrate for better jobs Wealthy, educated country gainsWealthy, educated country gains Poor country loses skilled peoplePoor country loses skilled people

REFUGEES (involuntary) Flee war or persecutionFlee war or persecution –International or internal (unrecognized) Many move to temporary campsMany move to temporary camps Apply for “asylum” (safe haven)Apply for “asylum” (safe haven)

Main sources of refugees

Highlands in Laos MekongRiver(border) Refugee camp in Thailand Laos Thailand Hmong refugees from Laos

Hmong refugees from Laos Many now in Calif., Minn., Wis.

“Ethnic cleansing” Forced removal of an ethnic group Serbs expelled from Krajina (Croatia), 1995 Albaniansexpelled from Kosovo (Serbia), 1999 (term from breakup of Yugoslavia, 1990s)

Afghan refugees

Migration and the U.S.

International / Involuntary : Transatlantic Slave Trade

Diaspora A group scattered globally by large- scale migration African Diaspora Jewish Diaspora Chinese Diaspora Palestinian Diaspora

Internal / Involuntary: Indian Removal west of Mississippi River

Waves of immigration, 1840s-1930s

Annual Immigration by Region of Origin

Origins and Destinations of Recent Immigrants

Immigration Patterns from Asia

Anti-immigrantmovements Riot against Chinese in Denver, 1880 Signs against Japanese in California, 1930s

Anti-immigrant arguments Immigrants “take jobs” and drain servicesImmigrants “take jobs” and drain services –Yet mainly “low-end” jobs Immigrants “threaten” culture/languageImmigrants “threaten” culture/language –Argument sees diversity as negative Anti-immigrant movements affect elections Anti-immigrant movements affect elections –Austria, France, Denmark, California, etc.

Undocumented immigrants more likely than U.S. citizens to… Be employedBe employed –Work longer hours Be free from assistanceBe free from assistance –Contribute to federal taxes through payroll Drain state social servicesDrain state social services –Federal gov’t should compensate states?

Immigration Patterns from Latin America

Mariel Boatlift from Cuba, 1980s Economic migrants or refugees? Cubans, Vietnamese had preferred status because they left a Communist country (Haitians, Salvadorans left U.S. allies) Boat people from Haiti, 1990s

Who came to whom? U.S. annexed northern Mexico in “We didn’t cross the border. The border crossed us.”

Internal migration within U.S.

Shifting Center of U.S. Population,

Rural-to-urban shift (Voluntary/internal)

The Great Migration African Americans moving from South to North to work in war industries

Shift to Sunbelt and West, late 20th century

U.S. Interregional Migration (annual average in 1000s during 1990s)