16 Marker Question:
To what extent do you agree that South to South migration has overtaken South to North migration?
[16 marks]
I agree that ‘South to South migration has overtaken South to North migration.’ Migration is the movement of
people from one area to another with the intentions of settling permanently or temporarily, at the new location.
The Global South vs Global North is a geographical area defined by the development of countries and this
influences migration patterns. The Global North is perceived as more developed than the Global South.
South- South migration is currently at 36% share of global migrant stock, which is equivalent to 82.3 million people.
Whereas, South-North migration is currently at 35% share of global migrant stock, which is equivalent to 81.9
million people. An example of a South- South Migration is Thailand and Myanmar. These countries are both part fo
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). The migration from Myanmar to Thailand (which is approximately
2.3mn Burmese) is due to free education given, which, in the long term, will allow people to learn new skills which
could possibly allow social remittances to be sent back to Myanmar. In addition, this free education, and the
migrants are documented so the children can go to school, means that it should improve the overall Human
Development Index. Migrating from Myanmar to Thailand, is due to the fast, growing economies and increased
awareness of opportunities. Thailand offers monthly payments to migrants who are working. The growth in
Thailand’s economy has consequently, caused Thailand to be moved from an agriculturally based economy to an
expert-oriented one, as its overall workforce increases. South-South Migration has become more dominant due to
more developed countries, more opportunities, and it could be too expensive to immediately migrate to the North,
where living standards are much higher.
South-North migration is currently at 35% share of global migrant stock, which is equivalent to 81.9 million people.
An example of South- North Migration is Syria to Western Europe. This is known as forced migration, which is the
movement from one area to another due to persecution, violence or conflict. In this case, people have fled from
Syria, because of conflict, caused by a corrupt government. This migration has seen people travel through Turkey
and Greece to countries such as Germany, France, and UK, where they attempt to seek refuge. These refugees
attempt to seek refuge in areas within the ‘hot banana’ which follows Myrdal’s Model that states the hot banana is
too heavy industrial regions of South East of the UK and in a Southeast direction towards Mediterranean. It means
there are better job opportunities for those that are wanting a job. It demonstrates that the development of these
countries within the Global North attract migrants that live in the South, as standards of living are higher and the
jobs opportunities are greater, which means economic remittances can be then transferred back to those who
remain in the Global South and can benefit those who remain in the South , such as, it reduces those who possibly
are in poverty.
Overall, although migration occurs the majority from South-South, migration is becoming rapidly everchanging.
South-South migration is not always the first choice for migrants, as a significant number would take South-North
migration by choice. In the short term, migrants will move South-South, in order to develop more financial
stability. Yet, in the long term, it will mean these migrants can afford to then migrate from South-North to further
improve their opportunities and quality of life. In addition, intra-regional migration occurs in China, which is the
movement of migrants from rural to urban (areas on the East Coast in cities such as Shanghai and Beijing), where
these locations are developing rapidly and resulting in more immigrants as standards of living are higher and job
opportunities are greater.
To what extent do you agree that South to South migration has overtaken South to North migration?
[16 marks]
I agree that ‘South to South migration has overtaken South to North migration.’ Migration is the movement of
people from one area to another with the intentions of settling permanently or temporarily, at the new location.
The Global South vs Global North is a geographical area defined by the development of countries and this
influences migration patterns. The Global North is perceived as more developed than the Global South.
South- South migration is currently at 36% share of global migrant stock, which is equivalent to 82.3 million people.
Whereas, South-North migration is currently at 35% share of global migrant stock, which is equivalent to 81.9
million people. An example of a South- South Migration is Thailand and Myanmar. These countries are both part fo
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). The migration from Myanmar to Thailand (which is approximately
2.3mn Burmese) is due to free education given, which, in the long term, will allow people to learn new skills which
could possibly allow social remittances to be sent back to Myanmar. In addition, this free education, and the
migrants are documented so the children can go to school, means that it should improve the overall Human
Development Index. Migrating from Myanmar to Thailand, is due to the fast, growing economies and increased
awareness of opportunities. Thailand offers monthly payments to migrants who are working. The growth in
Thailand’s economy has consequently, caused Thailand to be moved from an agriculturally based economy to an
expert-oriented one, as its overall workforce increases. South-South Migration has become more dominant due to
more developed countries, more opportunities, and it could be too expensive to immediately migrate to the North,
where living standards are much higher.
South-North migration is currently at 35% share of global migrant stock, which is equivalent to 81.9 million people.
An example of South- North Migration is Syria to Western Europe. This is known as forced migration, which is the
movement from one area to another due to persecution, violence or conflict. In this case, people have fled from
Syria, because of conflict, caused by a corrupt government. This migration has seen people travel through Turkey
and Greece to countries such as Germany, France, and UK, where they attempt to seek refuge. These refugees
attempt to seek refuge in areas within the ‘hot banana’ which follows Myrdal’s Model that states the hot banana is
too heavy industrial regions of South East of the UK and in a Southeast direction towards Mediterranean. It means
there are better job opportunities for those that are wanting a job. It demonstrates that the development of these
countries within the Global North attract migrants that live in the South, as standards of living are higher and the
jobs opportunities are greater, which means economic remittances can be then transferred back to those who
remain in the Global South and can benefit those who remain in the South , such as, it reduces those who possibly
are in poverty.
Overall, although migration occurs the majority from South-South, migration is becoming rapidly everchanging.
South-South migration is not always the first choice for migrants, as a significant number would take South-North
migration by choice. In the short term, migrants will move South-South, in order to develop more financial
stability. Yet, in the long term, it will mean these migrants can afford to then migrate from South-North to further
improve their opportunities and quality of life. In addition, intra-regional migration occurs in China, which is the
movement of migrants from rural to urban (areas on the East Coast in cities such as Shanghai and Beijing), where
these locations are developing rapidly and resulting in more immigrants as standards of living are higher and job
opportunities are greater.
