International migration - A case study - *AS*

An Example of Economic Migration: Turkish Migration

As economic development has taken place at different rates in different countries, supply & demand of labour is uneven and due to improvements in transport there has been an increase emigration. During the 1990’s 1.8 million Turks were living in Germany. Though many from Turkey are leaving Salkaltutan for Libya and Saudi Arabia for employment.

Causes

·       Salkaltutan (Population 900) in central Turkey was relatively poor, isolated and dependent of agriculture (Until 1987). Birth rates were high and resources were limited.

·       The village was overcrowded.

·       There were too many males to work on the land.

·       Demand for craftsmen was limited.

·       When roads were created the sale of surplus produced in nearby towns and led to increased mechanisation and a decline in the need for agricultural labourers. The result was a growth in aspirations of the villagers. Many moved to Ankara and West Germany.

·       Pforzheim is an industrial town near Stuttgart in Germany.

·       After 1945 European towns needed labourers to rebuild towns after WWII.

·       Many Turks went to work on farms but moved to better paid jobs in factories and construction. Many Germans did not take these jobs, as they were dirty, unskilled, poorly paid, demanded long hours and made people unsociable.

Positive Impacts On Source

·      Reduces pressure on jobs and local resources

·      Birth rates may be lowered as people of child bearing age leave

·      Money sent home to village (50% of Salkaltutan’s income is from overseas)

·      Migrants may develop new skills and bring them back to the village

Negative Impacts On Source

·      People of working age leave

·      People with skills and education are most likely to leave

·      It divides families

·      Elderly population is left, resulting in low birth rates

·      In the long term it creates dependency upon money sent back home

Positive Impacts On Destination

·       Labour shortage is solved, especially in dirty poorly paid unskilled jobs.

·       Cheaper labour in less desirable jobs

·       Cultural advantages of discovering new foods, music, past times ect.

·       Migrants tend to be more economically active and skilled

Negative Impacts On Source

·       Resentment towards Turks when Germany’s rate of unemployment rises

·       Turks from an ethnic group does not assimilate

·       Turks feel discriminated against with racial tension and police harassment

·       Several attacks on Turkish property

·       The reunification of Germany in 1989 brought unemployment and inflation problems. Demand for cheap housing increased and Turkish migrants were blamed for this.

·       Migrants may be a drain on local services

·       Migrants are mainly male, which can lead to social problems