Migration Case Studies

This lesson provides detailed case studies of major migration flows, examining their causes, patterns, and impacts on both source and host countries. These case studies are essential for supporting theoretical arguments in AQA A-Level Geography exam responses.

---

Case Study 1: Mexico to USA

Background

Migration from Mexico to the United States is one of the largest and most studied migration flows in the world. Mexican-born immigrants in the USA numbered approximately 10.7 million in 2022 (Pew Research Center), though this figure has been declining from a peak of 12.8 million in 2007.

Push Factors (Mexico)

• Poverty: approximately 44% of the Mexican population lives below the national poverty line
• Wage disparities: the minimum wage in Mexico was approximately $15 per day compared to$15perdaycomparedto58+ per day in the USA (2023)
• Unemployment and underemployment: limited formal-sector employment, especially in rural areas
• Drug-related violence: over 350,000 homicides linked to drug cartels since 2006
• Land reform failures: unequal land distribution leaves many rural families landless
• Environmental degradation: desertification and water scarcity in northern Mexico

Pull Factors (USA)

• Employment opportunities: demand for labour in agriculture, construction, services, and manufacturing
• Higher wages: US wages 5–10 times higher than Mexican equivalents
• Established diaspora: large Mexican-American communities provide social networks and support
• Remittance incentives: migrants send money home to support families
• Educational opportunities: better schools and universities
• Political stability and rule of law

Impacts on Mexico (Source Country)

Positive:

• Remittances totalled approximately $63.3 billion in 2023, making Mexico the second-largest remittance recipient globally
• Reduced pressure on employment and social services
• Returning migrants bring new skills and ideas (social remittances)
• Investment in local communities funded by remittance income

Negative:

• Brain drain: loss of young, skilled, and educated workers
• Dependency on remittances — some communities rely almost entirely on money from the USA
• Family separation: emotional and social costs
• Gender imbalance in rural communities where predominantly men migrate
• Depopulation of rural areas

Impacts on USA (Host Country)

Positive:

• Fills labour shortages in agriculture, construction, and services
• Contributes to economic growth and tax revenue
• Cultural enrichment: food, language, art, and festivals
• Demographic contribution: helps offset ageing native-born population
• Entrepreneurship: Mexican-owned businesses contribute billions to the US economy

Negative:

• Pressure on public services (healthcare, education) in border states
• Wage depression in low-skilled sectors (debated among economists)
• Social tensions and anti-immigrant sentiment
• Costs of border enforcement (US Customs and Border Protection budget: approximately $18 billion, 2023)
• Undocumented migration creates a vulnerable underclass

Policy Responses

• Border wall: construction and expansion under multiple administrations
• DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals): protections for those brought to the USA as children
• NAFTA/USMCA: trade agreements intended to reduce migration by boosting Mexican economic development
• Guest worker programmes: H-2A and H-2B visas for seasonal agricultural and non-agricultural workers
• Enforcement: deportation, workplace raids, employer sanctions

---

Case Study 2: Poland to UK (Post-2004)

Background

When Poland joined the EU in May 2004 (A8 accession), the UK was one of only three EU countries to grant immediate labour market access. This triggered one of the largest peacetime migration flows in European history.

Scale of Migration

• By 2017, an estimated 911,000 Polish-born people were living in the UK (ONS)
• Polish became the most common non-British nationality in England and Wales
• Peak migration years were 2005–2008

Push Factors (Poland)

• High unemployment: approximately 19% in 2004 (one of the highest in the EU)
• Low wages: average wage approximately €600 per month in 2004
• Limited career opportunities: especially for young graduates
• EU accession: freedom of movement removed legal barriers

Pull Factors (UK)

• Labour demand: strong economy with labour shortages in agriculture, food processing, construction, and hospitality
• Higher wages: UK minimum wage approximately 3–4 times higher than Polish equivalents
• English language: many Poles spoke English as a second language
• Established Polish diaspora: historical community from WWII era
• Immediate access: no transitional restrictions unlike most EU countries

Impacts on Poland (Source Country)

Positive:

• Reduced unemployment (fell from 19% to approximately 5% by 2018)
• Remittances: Polish migrants sent approximately £1.1 billion annually to Poland
• Returning migrants brought new skills, languages, and business ideas
• Reduced pressure on housing and social services

Negative:

• Labour shortages in key sectors (construction, healthcare)
• Brain drain: loss of graduates and skilled workers
• Ageing population accelerated by emigration of young adults
• Some communities experienced depopulation
• Family separation and social disruption

Impacts on UK (Host Country)

Positive:

• Filled critical labour shortages in agriculture, food processing, construction, and hospitality
• Net fiscal contribution: Polish workers paid more in taxes than they received in benefits (UCL study, 2014)
• Economic growth: migrants contributed to GDP and productivity
• Cultural enrichment: Polish shops, restaurants, churches, and community organisations
• Demographic contribution: young workers with higher birth rates

Negative:

• Pressure on local services (housing, schools, GP surgeries) in areas of concentrated settlement
• Wage compression in low-skilled sectors (though evidence is mixed)
• Social tensions in some communities, contributing to anti-EU sentiment
• Language barriers in schools and healthcare settings
• Impact on social cohesion in rapidly changing communities

Post-Brexit Impact

• EU Settlement Scheme: approximately 900,000 Polish nationals applied for settled status
• Net Polish migration turned negative after 2017 — more Poles leaving than arriving
• Brexit uncertainty, rising Polish wages, and the falling value of the pound reduced the UK's attractiveness
• Labour shortages emerged in sectors previously reliant on Polish workers (e.g., food processing, agriculture)

---

Case Study 3: Syrian Refugee Crisis (2011–Present)

Background