Junior Cycle Geography CYCLONE 19.6 Globalisation and Migration
Today, the number of people living outside their country of birth is larger than at any other time in history. International migrants would now make up the world’s fi fth most populated country if they all lived in the same place.
United Nations Population Fund
Globalisation is the process whereby the world has become more interconnected. It is the increasing interaction of peoples, states or countries through the growth of the international flow of money, ideas and culture.
Globalisation has introduced factors known as ‘ network factors ’ that have influenced migration. Network factors include:
The free flow of information Improved global communications The faster and lower cost of moving from one place to another.
The Impacts of Migration for Migrants The impacts of migration can be positive and negative for the migrant.
Positives
Immigration can provide a supply of low-cost workers for some countries. This is positive provided these migrant workers’ rights are protected and that they are paid a fair wage.
Migrants also bring qualifications and skills that can fill a gap in the jobs market, like engineers, nurses, doctors and teachers.