Globalisation Fuelling Mass Migration

Globalisation is leading to increased profits and happier shareholders on the one hand, and disillusioned poorer staff and increases in the numbers of post-materialists seeking an escape from the rat race on the other.

As corporate profits fly, thanks to extreme cost cutting and outsourcing measures, shareholders are rewarded for their loyalty and their investment whilst staff are working longer hours, enduring extreme job uncertainty and earning at least 6% less in real terms than they earned 20 years ago.

Is it any wonder then that in the last three years Britain has been waving goodbye to the highest numbers of outward migrants for at least the last two decades? 

Is it any wonder then that Britain is set to lose more than one tenth of its current population overseas by 2020 if the trend continues? 

Is it any wonder then that more and more people are looking to down-shift, step off the treadmill and join the growing numbers who have already left behind fast paced, unrewarding lives in search of personal fulfilment overseas?

Well, politicians are certainly puzzled by these figures because mass migration is usually the result of economic failure, and as we’re all aware Britain’s economy is booming. 

So rather than job uncertainty, globalisation and outsourcing, could it be that the allure of sunnier climes is drawing these people away in increased numbers rather than the realities of life in the UK and other industrialised nations actually pushing them away?

I think governments would like us to think so!

Personally I’m not so sure. 

The allure of sunnier climes, less crime and a more laid back pace of life are of course universal and timeless, but I still believe that increased focus should be placed on companies who show no loyalty to their staff and countries that show no concern for their citizen’s futures.  After all, the numbers who have thought about moving abroad apparently haven’t changed for decades...it’s simply the numbers who are actually doing something about making that dream a reality that have multiplied of late. 

And if anyone needs proof that in the rich industrialised world people’s wages are receding, job insecurity is increasing, employment creation is stagnant and corporate profits are at all time highs let’s examine the record for Carrefour, the second largest retailer in the world.

In 2004 the company enjoyed profits in excess of USD 1.8 billion, at the same time their shareholders revelled in 27% dividends, also at the same time their staff received an annual wage increase lower than the rate of inflation.

Companies like Carrefour find it far easier to outsource manufacturing, distribution, accounting, analysis and IT jobs therefore they are able to massively cut their overheads, massively extend their profits and massively reward their shareholders.  The lower skilled jobs that have to be performed by local workers have mass applications with job applications for a typical check-out role receiving 10 applications per position.  This means that wage demands fall on deaf ears because if you quit your low paid job there are at least 10 other people queuing up to take it.

And how desperate are the unemployed to achieve gainful employment?  Well, going back to that check-out role that receives 10 applications momentarily; in America Wal-Mart pay an average of USD 9.68 for such a position which experts say is not actually enough to even feed a family on these days. 

And how desperate are the employed to hold onto their jobs?  According to research in Germany, companies like Bosch and Siemens actually get more hours and higher productivity levels from the staff who fear most for their job security.

So, it’s hardly surprising then that the numbers of outward migrants in search of personal fulfilment are on the up - what have they got to stay behind for?  Loyalty to their employer, loyalty to their government?  YouGov and the Centre for Future Studies in the UK both revealed startling statistics recently with YouGov reporting that 55% of British Adults were “seriously considering settling in another country” and a report from the Centre for Future Studies estimating that the number of adult Britons “considering moving abroad to work or live” is one third of the current population.  Add these statistics to the fact that the number of Britons who have actually put their words into action and hot-footed it out of the UK in search of that ‘better life’ have increasing from 266,000 in 1993 to 359,000 in 2002 for example and you can see that the push versus pull argument is heating up.

But instead of speculation and conjecture we could just look at the facts cited by these outward migrants as their reasons for leaving their old lives behind and draw our final conclusions from that…

Separate UK polls by YouGov, ICM and the Alliance & Leicester Building Society reveal that three quarters of those interviewed stated that their reasons for leaving the UK were because their quality of life had deteriorated, crime levels had increased, taxes had increased, lack of space and freedom had increased, weather was getting worse, working hours were now at extreme levels, commute times were crippling, work stress was at all time highs, house prices and mortgages were unachievable and restrictive. 

Those interviewed were also asked about what they were seeking from their new life abroad and they cited a better quality of life, a lower cost of living, shorter working hours, a greater value being placed on leisure and family time, a better climate, a slower pace of life, improved health services and less crime.

So there we have it: more and more of us who work for these profit focused, short-sighted companies and who live in industrialised countries who seek to tax us more and more and offer us less and less are leaving. 

And who can blame us?

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