The Immigration Benefits Essay

Introduction

The desire to change accommodations and occupations is one of the main characteristics of a modern person. Migration has existed at all times and has supplemented the development of humankind. In the contemporary world, along with the advent of aeroplanes and innovative information technologies, population migration has acquired an unprecedented scale. People have got the opportunity in a matter of hours to get any place in the world, and the ongoing internationalisation of production caused large-scale movements.

However, in the past, migration was principally associated with a change of residence, now millions of people cross borders in search of temporary work. Specialists define labour migration as an advantageous process that positively affects the development of the economy in countries of employment and the improvement of the quality of life of families of labour migrants in their countries of origin (Brook and Buettel, 2016). Developed countries are actively using free labour to maintain stable economic growth, and these countries are competing among themselves to attract foreign workers. Even though there are several negative characteristics of immigration for the host country, the total number of positive aspects of the phenomenon presented is generally higher, which defines migration as an economically and socially beneficial process. The paper considers the advantages of multiculturalism and immigration for the social and economic spheres of the host country.

Economic Advantages

The exploitation of immigrant labour generates considerable advantages to host states. First of all, because of the arrival of foreign workers characterised by high flexibility, structural alterations in the country’s economy, including regional and sectoral ones, are facilitated. Furthermore, host states can save a notable amount of money on immigrant employees’ training (McLaren, Boomgaarden and Vliegenthart, 2017). For example, as a result of the migration of many scientists at the end of the 20th century, several developed countries only saved considerable funds in the educational sector. Secondly, skilled foreign labour is paid below national personnel, as a result of which companies spare money and increase the level of competitiveness for organisations and their services and products.

Moreover, the position of foreign workers in rejuvenating the labour structure of industrialised states with a tendency to ageing is excellent since fertility decreases with increasing living standards. The majority of countries that excel in development currently are at a point of recession in the overall statistic of people at a working age due to declining birth rates (Joppke, 1996). The problem represented can be solved exclusively with two approaches, which are a significant growth of labour productivity and stimulation of labour movement The former choice is the most favourable in the present circumstances. However, it requires technological progress and much time for implementation. The latter approach suggests an immediate resolution of the shortage, specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises. Immigrants are expanding the capacity of national merchandise markets and encourage production advancement along with increased employment rates in the host state since they use local companies and services.

However, significant amounts of money accumulated on immigrants’ accounts in saving banks may be applied as a supplementary approach to gaining growth in the host state. Immigrant labourers frequently assist as a conflict reducing power within hiring organisations and workers during critical periods since they are typically the ones to be dismissed first. In addition, many countries benefit from immigrant labour in that such workers frequently apply for the positions that native populations avoid. For instance, entire niches in the labour market are occupied almost exclusively by labour migrants (Blinder and Allen, 2016). This kind of situation occurs because such work is unattractive to the local population, or it is paid too low. Meanwhile, the engagement of immigrant employees in household labour allows commissioning females. The labour openings of nurses, housemaids, and babysitters in developed countries turned into migrant ones in a short time. Still, the possibility to exploit low-cost hired immigrant labour is a factor stimulating an opportunity for employment for many females.

Moreover, there is a growing tendency in enrolment in small enterprises and companies. Such a change can be noticed when employing both low-skilled and profoundly proficient labourers. Typically, small enterprises are excessively contingent on the extent of costs, principally at the point of formation and establishment. Immigrant labour supply allows starting companies to get the required workforce in the situations when they have to make cost reductions or shortages (Manacorda and Wadsworth, 2011). Such a tendency may be noticed in the exploitation of illegal migrant labour, particularly in states with high social security prevailing in the labour market. It is crucial to emphasise that unlawful migration results in several adverse political and socio-economic issues, as well as it leads to numerous risks. To minimise such instances, the country’s administration of immigrant labour should perform an in-depth evaluation of all the likely outcomes in order to develop an approach concerning the possibilities of involving cheap immigrant labour.

Furthermore, the reduction of the tax burden on the state budget may occur in some instances. Migrant workers not only do not require social benefits but also by paying high taxes and other mandatory contributions, which decrease the relevant tax burden on the indigenous population (Dustmann and Preston, 2016). In the end, the enrolment of immigrants in the so-called non-esteemed economic spheres strengthens local labourers’ vertical flexibility, prompting the latter to enhance their competences and search for more reputable and highly-paid positions. In a position when local people cannot or do not wish to improve their professional expertise and look for positions in higher-paid niches, the likelihood of high unemployment rates in the locality increases considerably.

A growth in the scope of external labour immigration brings about a rise in the immigrants’ input in the gross domestic product of the host states. Immigrants raise the overall working-age population, arrive with a specific educational degree, competencies, and skills, and they strengthen the promotion of the human capital of their host countries (Griswold, 2018). Furthermore, if immigrant labourers have a high level of skills, they can prompt the growth of innovation, which results in labour productivity’s increase. For instance, the movement of highly-skilled employees advances a variety of studies and innovations, along with technological progress improvements. The growth of labour immigration results in an elevated demand for transport services, such as the expansion of public and private transport. There is a supplementary incentive for the launching of new transport courses, an incremented number of flights, and a growing need in new vehicles. Each of the presented circumstances leads to the increased profitability of transport companies.

Social Advantages

The principal consequence of immigration for the social sector is multiculturalism, the development of which has positive aspects. Multiculturalism is a philosophy incorporating cultural pluralism and supporting its evolvement. The phenomenon presented seeks appreciation of each person’s rights in any state, no matter what their racial, ethnic, or religious backgrounds are (Ashcroft and Bevir, 2017). The theoretical ground for multiculturalism is based on liberalism, specifically its values of equality, freedom, and fraternity. It is essential to note that any multicultural society is a liberal community where all kinds of injustice can be dealt with: not only social but also racial.

Multiculturalism is a constructive social concept generating exceptional opportunities for society’s development. To a great extent, multiculturalism averts the growth of ethnic conflicts and establishes trust among people. No less challenging is the problem of political correctness, which has received considerable attention from multiculturalism. The term meant the attitude of intolerance towards other positions and values, restriction of freedom of speech, rejection of inconsistency, and variance in views and behaviour. Later, political correctness began to be perceived as the embodiment of conformism, lack of will and passive consent with the official point of view, and political incorrectness, on the contrary, as an expression of a personal and original position, a readiness to upset or even offend others for the sake of it. Multiculturalism seeks to fill political correctness with positive meanings (Ashcroft and Bevir, 2017). For this purpose, it suggests avoiding the use of words and expressions that could offend the self-esteem of ethnic minorities or social groups, strengthen the feeling of marginality, lure or belittle their opinions, views, and behaviours.

Immigrants are also a source of knowledge, such as innovation, creativity, and new skills that can benefit the country’s cultural and social development. New tastes and styles that are the ethnic business (such as restaurants and shops) add shades to communities. At the same time, it attracts tourists to their cultural holidays and festivals, which helps to unite citizens. Multiculturalism helps to learn and understand different cultures, to find the type of interaction in which citizens better understand each other and get along with each other and make it possible to learn different languages, religions, and traditions (Vora et al., 2018). However, the central and foremost advantage of multiculturalism for society is the elimination of different types of discrimination in the first place of racial and national inequality.

In the context of globalisation, an increase in migration flows is an inevitable process in the world, and the movement of considerable masses of the population from region to region and from country to country has not only beneficial but also disadvantageous outcomes. The main economic advantages of immigration are the equalisation of the labour market, that is, the ability to transfer labour to where it is lacking, rejuvenation of the host country, that is, improvement of the demographic situation, since the bulk of migrants are young mobile people, as well as the interaction of peoples in the field of culture, improving mutual understanding between them. Nevertheless, the negative consequences of migration exist, and the host government should develop a valid policy of monitoring and dstrengthening the economic and social sphere in the circumstances of multiculturalism.

Reference List

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4. Dustmann, C. and Preston, I. (2016). ‘Is immigration good or bad for the economy? Analysis of attitudinal responses’, Research in Labor Economics, 24, pp. 3-34.
5. Griswold, D. (2018). ‘The benefits of immigration: Addressing key myths’, Mercatus Center at George Manson University, [online] pp. 1-6. Web.
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