Economic migration meaning

The term “Economic Migration” refers to the movement of individuals from one place to another, typically from one country to another, with the aim of improving their economic situation or that of their family. This type of migration is motivated by the pursuit of economic opportunities such as employment, education, trade, or simply a higher standard of living. Consequently, this situation directly concerns economically active individuals aged between 15 to 64 years. They often include skilled or unskilled workers, entrepreneurs, students, etc.

In terms of Economic Migration, the pattern of migratory flows depicts the movement of people from economically less developed countries to more developed countries or regions. Typically, workers from Mexico migrate to the United States, those from North Africa to Europe, or those from Asia to the Middle East.

Unlike refugee migration, economic migrants do not leave their country out of fear of persecution. They are compelled to change countries due to the difficult economic situations in their country of origin that prevent them from living adequately. One drawback is that this type of immigration does not allow for seeking asylum.

The effects of economic migration can differ between the host country and the country of origin. In the former case, the influx of active workers can disrupt the labor market, enabling employers to access cheap labor. For the country of origin, this can also lead to a shortage of labor.

Etymology of Economic migration

The term “Economic migration” derives from the Greek word “oikonomikos,” which refers to household management, and the Latin “migratio,” meaning the movement from one place to another. It can be interpreted as the link between economic management and geographical displacement. In immigration law, its usage refers to the movement of individuals leaving their country of origin to live in another country for economic reasons.