Callum Scott!

Saturday, 19 November 2011

Outline and comment on the economic and political censquences of population change: Changes in population can have many political and economic effects on a country. As people move from one country to another it will reduce the number of people in one country in one and increase the numbers in another. This can effect the countries in a range of ways varying from economic ones such as a growth in a countrys cheep labour force, to political; where policies on immigration can be a major part of a political campaign, and even to social issues where for example the immigrant community can cause hostility from the non immigrants. The economic and political changes caused by population change caused by the immigrants to America from Mexico are growing as the numbers of immigrants increase. The new immigrant populations are spreading further across america and are no longer conned to only states such as California and Florida. This is bringing changes to population structures right across America, and also in Mexico where the immigrants have left. The increase in population in the USA due to Mexican immigration has wrought changes to the economy of America. Mexicans are attracted to America by the prospect of more, better payed jobs and more social security than they have back in Mexico. America also attracts many of Mexico's more highly educated students that then go to study and work in large corporations, this type of job is not as available in mexico and only 21% of science students return to mexico. America gains skilled workers. The less skilled workers that arrive in America will do the jobs that Americans do not necessarily want to do. The Mexicans take up the low paid jobs which in times of economic growth makes up for a shortage in the workforce but in times such as the current credit crises takes jobs away from Americans because of the Mexicans willingness to work for a lower wage. The Mexicans pay tax and spend money in the local economy, even the illegal immigrants pay tax, they payed a total of 16 billion US$ in 2002, however they cost America an estimated $26.5 billion a decit of $10.5 billion. Although in 2006 illegal immigrants contributed $468 billion. In Mexico the population of young men is decreasing as they emigrate to America. Mexico is loosing its workforce. However with 25% of the population underemployed and many unemployed this is no bad thing. The unemployed are a drain on the Mexican economy and tend towards crime to gain the money that they need to survive. Those that do move to America and nd work and succeed send home remittances, a major contributor to the Mexican economy. The brain drain in Mexico reduces the size of Mexico's skilled workforce, this then has the affect of discouraging TNCs from setting up in Mexico because it doesnt have the large skilled workforce that they will need, and so there is less FDI less jobs for the skilled workers and so they are forced to move out of Mexico making the problem worse. The remittances that are sent back from the Mexicans that have moved to America encourage more Mexicans to want to move as well, if these people then do well and send home more money you can end up with whole villages becoming ghost towns as all the people move out. There has been a long history of mexican immigration to America and over the years this has caused a host of political changes. Back in the 40s a program that allowed Mexicans to come and work in America for a xed period of time and in a given area of work (usually agriculture) came into effect, the Bracero Program was largely successful. At the end of the second world war Mexican veterans entered America and used their GI benets to buy homes and education for their children, this inux of mexicans caused many of the other Mexican workers to be forced to leave. Operation wetback took place in 1953, it was a program that led to the deportation of over 3.8 million people of mexican heritage. In 1964

Callum Scott!

Saturday, 19 November 2011

the Bracero Program is repealed and an end comes to an era of reasonably successfully immigration. When the peso devalued in 1982 the numbers of Maquiladoras (foreign owned factories that export to the country that owns the factory) increased massively. In 1996 a 40 mile long fence was built to deter the ever increasing numbers of Mexicans seeking to illegally immigrate into America, and nally in 2005 they were labeled as criminals. With so many past changes on political policy brought about by uctuations in the numbers of immigrants there can only be more changes on the way. The Mexicans that have gotten into the country cause political problems as well, the numbers of Mexicans appearing in American cities are stirring up racial tensions which will sooner or later have to be addressed. The drop in population in Mexico has also caused political changes, and in order for Mexico to stem the tide of people leaving more changes will have to be brought into place. Mexico needs to spend more money on improving its services, for example increasing its healthcare to levels that are closer to Americas 400 people per doctor. And to boost education to increase its adult literacy rates from 81.6%. If Mexico can hold onto its skilled workforce and give more incentives, it will attract more TNCs to set up and increase the number of jobs available to the people. Giving more incentives for the students to return to mexico and set up jobs will also increase number of jobs in mexico and so the standard of living. There has been a long history of Mexico-America migration, and so changes in the population structure. However with more an more mexicans moving to America in search of work, illegally and legally, the US is going to have to make stricter and stricter policies relating to foreign immigration in order to keep the numbers in check. America spends billions trying to control its border with Mexico and yet more people slip in each year. America and Mexico are going to have to tackle their problems together. Immigration has brought countless benets to the US but it cannot be sustained at the current rate.