Effects of Internal Migration and Net Emigration on a City!
Workers tend to migrate from rural to urban areas in search of better jobs and higher incomes. Such migrants may supply growing industries and result in a better allocation of resources. Their movement may also raise living standards in rural areas if initially there had been underemployment and if they send back money to their relatives.
There may, however, be some harmful effects also. If it is the most productive agricultural workers that leave, agricultural productivity may fall. There is also no guarantee that enough jobs will be available in urban areas and a number of external costs, including overcrowding, increased pressure on social capital and congestion may occur as a result of the rapid expansion of cities.
The Effects of Net Emigration:
There are a number of possible economic effects of net emigration. These are influenced by the size and the nature of the emigration.
Some of these include:
i. The size of the working population is likely to be reduced. Most emigrants tend to be of working age.
ii. The remaining labour force will have a greater burden of dependency.
iii. The average age of the labour force will increase. This may make it less mobile.
iv. The sex distribution of the population may be affected. In the case of some countries, more men emigrate than women.
v. There may be a shortage of a particular skill if it is mainly workers from one particular category (for instance medical care) who emigrate.
vi. There may be under-utilization of resources. The country may become under-populated.
vii. Those who emigrate may send money home to help their relatives.