Effects of Migration
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| brain drain | 人才外流 | rén cái wài liú |
| remittances | 侨汇 | qiáo huì |
Two places change
- Migration reshapes both the origin (where migrants leave) and the destination (where they arrive).
- Because migrants are often young working adults, both places' age structures shift.
- The effects can be economic, social, and demographic.
The destination
- Destinations gain workers and cultural diversity.
- But rapid arrival can strain housing and services and cause social tension.
- Migrant labour often fills jobs local workers avoid.
The place where migrants arrive is the ____.
The destination gains workers; the origin is where they leave.
The origin
- Origins may suffer a brain drain 人才外流 — losing skilled workers.
- But they gain remittances 侨汇 — money migrants send home.
- Remittances are a major source of income for many developing countries.
Origin or destination effect?
Sort each effect as felt at the origin or the destination.
Remittances are...
Remittances are money migrants send home — a key income for many origins.
A brain drain means the origin country loses skilled workers.
Brain drain is the loss of skilled and educated people from the origin.
Select all effects felt at the origin.
Brain drain, remittances, and losing young adults hit the origin; housing pressure hits the destination.
Match each effect to where it is felt.
Remittances + brain drain affect the origin; extra workers affect the destination.
Migration is not simply "good" or "bad" for a place. The origin loses workers (brain drain) but gains money (remittances); the destination gains labour but faces pressure on housing and services. Always weigh both sides.
The Philippines sends millions of workers abroad. It loses many nurses and skilled workers (a brain drain), but the remittances they send home make up a huge share of the national income — money that pays for schooling, housing, and food.
Migration reshapes both ends. Destinations gain workers but strain services; origins face a brain drain but gain remittances. Because migrants are mostly young adults, both places' age structures change too.