Causes of Migration

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Potential Explanations for Migration

The causes of migration are varied and complex and are subject to change. Economic theory has attempted to explain them. Here are some potential explanations:

Family

Many migrants move internationally and within nations to be with their families.

Economic

Most migrants are economic migrants.
It is important to note that migrants are often not the poorest in their home areas. To migrate, they often have to pay for travel and pay traffickers to get them to their destination.

Politics/war

Some migrants are forced to move because they are displaced by conflict, poverty or persecution.
The Syrian civil war between Bashar al-Assad, ISIL and other groups has displaced a lot of people.
At least, 700,000 Rohingya people had to move out of Myanmar because of persecution in 2018.

Remittances

Sometimes families and friends ‘club together’ to send the person with the highest earning potential abroad, to maximise remittances (payments sent back home).
World Bank data suggests that between 1995 and 2004, remittances received in Nepal rose 9% and the incidence of poverty fell 11%.

Friedman's Core-Periphery Economic Model

Friedman's core-periphery model views migration as an efficient way to maximise output and profits. People are treated as an economic resource that businesses use (or hire).

The 'core'

Friedman argued that uneven growth is caused by a natural advantage (e.g. strategic position on a trading route like Antwerp or a rich wealth of raw materials like the USA).
The 'core' has this natural advantage and other areas do not.

Backwash effects

Over time, the imbalance between the natural advantage of the core and other areas (the periphery) becomes larger.
Migrants, resources and investment continue to move from the periphery towards the core.
The movement of these people, resources and capital are called backwash effects.
Free trade, free migration and deregulated financial/capital markets are important for allowing these backwash effects to happen.
Investment and migration are all towards the core.

Migration maximises output

Migration is an efficient way to maximise the output of the whole system (in the world).
People move to the most productive place (the core) where output and profits are maximised.
Friedman argued that borders should be open to facilitate this.

Trickle-down effects

Some economists argue that there are negative backwash effects, with the periphery being harmed by things like brain drain (everyone leaving a country).
However, Friedman argued that negative backwash effects are balanced by positive spread effects (where the profits and output of the core trickle down to the periphery).

Issues with Friedman's Economic Theory of Migration

There are some issues or counterarguments against Friedman's theory of migration:

Backwash vs spread effects

Measuring the size of negative backwash effects is very difficult. They include many social and political judgments and are subjective.
Proving that spread effects are larger than backwash effects is difficult or impossible.

Inequalities

Inequalities are created and social and political hierarchies may work to maintain them.

National identity

Mass migration is likely to have a big impact on national identity and sovereignty.
This could lead to discrimination and prejudice that may not be captured by the mode.

Managing migration

Many governments seek to manage migration, however, advancing technology and an increased level of interconnectedness make it harder to control migration.
Things like remote work in the modern era may not fit well with this model of migration.