essay immigration advantages disadvantages

Pros and cons of Immigration

Immigration can give substantial economic benefits – a more flexible labour market, greater skills base, increased demand and a greater diversity of innovation. However, immigration is also controversial. It is argued immigration can cause issues of overcrowding, congestion, and extra pressure on public services. There is also a debate about whether immigration of unskilled workers leads to downward pressure on wages and even unemployment of native workers. This is a look at mostly the economic costs and benefits of immigration.

Benefits of Immigration

1. Increased economic output and living standards. Net immigration will lead to a growth in the size of the labour force and an increase in the productive capacity of the economy. Immigration leads to higher economic growth with a corresponding rise in tax revenues and potential for government spending.

2. Potential entrepreneurs . It is argued that immigrants often arrive with little wealth so have a greater incentive to try and make something for themselves. Also, people who are willing to leave a country and try in a foreign company are the most ambitious and willing to take risks and a result tend to be the more dynamic part of the workforce. Immigrants who are young and mobile are also quite likely to be entrepreneurs – set up businesses which create innovative products. The American economy is an example of how immigrants have moved to America and set up classic American companies – leading to higher living standards and a greater choice of goods and services. For example, (Apple) Steve Job’s father – Abdul Fattah Jandali was from Syria. Alexander Graham Bell (telephone AT&T) from Scotland. Jeff Bezos (Amazon) son of a Cuban immigrant. Sergey Brin (Google) is a Russian immigrant.

3. Increased demand and growth . A fear of immigration is that ‘Immigrants take jobs from native-born population’ However, this is known as the lump of labour fallacy . The belief that the number of jobs remains fixed. However, this is not the case, if immigrants move to the US or UK and gain employment, then they will spend their wages in their new country, creating new demand in the service and goods sector. Far from ‘taking jobs’ immigrants contribute to a growth in GDP. Between 1900 and 1915, 15 million immigrants arrived in the US ( 1 ), but this was a period of low unemployment and high economic growth. Immigration was a major factor in the rapid rate of growth (In US between 1890 to 1910 – economic growth was over 4%.)

4. Better skilled workforce. In the UK, immigrants working in the economy are more likely to have more educational and skilled qualifications. For example, just 20% of UK citizens finished education at 21 or later. But 53% of new immigrants were educated until 21 or later. (LSE study 2012 ) Immigration allows an economy to attract high skilled professionals to fill in job vacancies and contribute to higher tax revenues.

5. Net benefit to government revenues . Because immigrants are more likely to be young and working than native-born citizens, they provide a net benefit to government revenues. Working people pay income tax, but don’t receive benefits, such as education, pensions. Young people are less likely to use health care services than old people. For example, the UK government HMRC show that in 2015/16, EEA nationals paid £15.5bn more in income tax and national insurance than they took out in tax credits and child benefit ( HMRC, 2018 ). A study by Oxford Economics (2018) shows that recent migrants from EEA had the biggest fiscal benefit (+£4.7bn), non-EEA migrants a small cost (£ -9.0), and UK born citizens the biggest net tax burden (-£41.0bn).

• Evaluation – The impact of migration does depend on the type of immigrants. In the UK experience, non-EEA migrants have a bigger fiscal cost, because this includes more old-aged dependents who can migrate due to family reasons (therefore negative tax impact). There is a list of different studies on the fiscal impact of immigration here .

6. Deal with an ageing population. Many economies in the west are facing a demographic crunch with a low birth rate and ageing population causing a rise in the dependency ratio (ratio of old to young workers). This puts pressure on social care, tax revenues and government spending. Immigration is the most effective policy to deal with an ageing population, as it allows shortages in health care and social care to be filled with young workers who make a net contribution to government finances and boost the workforce.

7. More flexible labour market. Immigrants are highly mobile. They move to economies when wages are high and demand for labour strong. This helps to prevent a booming economy from overheating by providing labour to meet the growing demand. However, less obvious is the fact, that if the economy enters a downturn, migration flows often reverse, meaning they don’t stay to try and get unemployment benefits but return home. A good example is Ireland. In the boom years, pre-2007, the economy attracted many construction workers from the EU. When the property market collapsed many construction workers went home – limiting the rise in Irish unemployment. Immigration helped the labour market be more flexible.

8. Solves a skills shortage . If an economy has a shortage of skilled workers such as nurses and doctors, it would take several years to train new workers. But, the health service cannot afford this wait. Immigration enables the shortage to be filled immediately.

9. Filling undesirable job vacancies . Some types of jobs are often difficult to fill by native-born workers due to low wages and/or the prestige attached to that kind of work. For example, farmers often rely on immigrant workers to pick crops. A decline in immigration to the UK in 2019, led to farmers claiming they were unable to pick the harvest because they couldn’t get the seasonal labour. Immigration provides a benefit to businesses and employers who rely on flexible labour to fill job vacancies. Also, if low-skilled jobs are filled by migrants, it enables native-born workers to gain better-skilled work elsewhere.

10. Multi-cultural society . Away from economics, some feel that immigration leads to greater cultural diversity, which gives a country a more diverse and inclusive feel. All countries with immigration have absorbed some aspect of foreign culture into their country – be it cuisine, music, literature or political influences.

Costs of immigration

1. Potential negative impact on real wages. It is argued that low-skilled immigrants put downward pressure on wages. The argument is that an increase in the supply of unskilled labour enables firms to fill vacancies with lower wages than previously. Between 2010 and 2018, the UK had a high rate of net migration, but this was also a period of stagnant real wage growth. The impact on wages tends to be greater for the low-paid and those with few educational qualifications. A recent study by the Bank of England found a rise in immigration had a small impact on overall wages – with a 10% increase in immigration – wages fall by 0.31%. A study Dustmann et al ( 2013 ) find negative effects of immigration for the lower paid; they found that a 1% increase in the ratio of migrants to non-migrants leads to a 0.5% decrease for the poorest 10%.

• The impact on wages is uncertain. There are conflicting studies depending on the type of immigration. Most recent studies in the UK suggest if there is a negative effect on real wages it tends to be small. Also, many factors affect wages apart from migration levels.

2. Real GDP per capita could fall . Often supporters of immigration point to how it increases real GDP, and this is true. A rise in the population will ceteris paribus, increase national output. But a more useful measure is GDP per head. If immigration is of low-skilled and/or those not in labour markets, it will lead to a fall in real GDP per head.

3. Structural unemployment . Immigration could lead to some displacement of native-born workers who then experience structural unemployment. For example, if migrants gain unskilled labour because they are willing to work for lower wages. Those native-born low-skilled workers may find it harder to gain new employment in higher-skilled occupations.

4. Pressure on public services . Immigration and a rise in local populations put higher pressure on social services, such as schools, hospitals, roads and public transport. In theory, higher growth would lead to more tax revenue to enable higher spending. But, migration tends to be focused in particular areas (e.g near borders). Local people can feel a deterioration in the quality of public amenities because the population is growing faster than the number of schools. In the UK, the pro-Brexit vote was often highest in areas like Lincolnshire and Dover, which had recently experienced an influx of migrants without any corresponding increase in investment.

• If migration is more evenly spread out, these problems can be avoided. For example, parts of Scotland suffer from declining populations, but ironically migrants are often attracted to over-crowded areas like the south and London, where other migrants already live.

5. Housing costs If migrants move to areas with limited housing stock, migration can put upward pressure on rents and house prices, reducing living standards and increasing housing poverty for both migrants and native-born population who experience high living costs. In the UK, housing costs are a major problem – especially in areas like London and the south where it has been hard to find places to build new housing. Studies such as the Migration Advisory Committee ( 2018 ) found that a 1% increase in the UK’s population due to migration increased house prices by 1%. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) found that between 1991 and 2015 immigration had contributed to a 20% rise in house prices ( Study p.76 )

6. Disharmony from rapid immigration . Whilst some like a more multi-cultural society which occurs from immigration, others are less welcoming of this change and feel like their culture and background is threatened by immigrants who don’t fit into their existing society. This is especially an issue with immigrants who don’t learn the native language, have different religions and belief systems and live in mostly isolated communities.

• Evaluation: Often dislike of immigration is strongest in communities where the rate of immigration is very low. Areas with high rates of immigrants are more likely to appreciate the benefits of immigration.
• The extent of migration

This shows net migration into the UK. Figures of over 300,000 net migration in 2015 led to greater concerns over the sustainability of maintaining that level of migration and were a factor in the Brexit vote in 2016.

Reasons for migration

The reasons for migration are important. Migrating for work purposes are different to migration to embark in higher education. Also, it depends on the type of work workers are coming for. For example, in the UK, some jobs are hard to fill – health care workers, fruit pickers. Migration of these job types may be more encouraged.

• Impact of immigration in UK
• Economic effect of a cut in immigration

28 thoughts on “Pros and cons of Immigration”

I study immigration as a process, types of immigration and opportunities in different countries. Thanks for the helpful article.

THis is not a helpful article what does (Apple) Steve Job’s father – Abdul Fattah Jandali was from Syria. Alexander Graham Bell (telephone AT&T) from Scotland. Jeff Bezos (Amazon) son of a Cuban immigrant. Sergey Brin (Google) is a Russian immigrant. mean, what does (apple)(google)(amazon) and (telephone AT&T) mean mam.

Is this an article or a book?

It is a Video ☺️

Thank you for this. I needed to write an essay on my opinion on immigration, supported by facts.

I came here to do a speech on the pros and cons of immigration

Thank you, I needed to write a short essay on immigration about pros and cons. I found your website was very helpful.

Do you still have your essay? =)

I have to do a debate on this if you have anything I could use.

Do you have the essay by any chance?? 😅😅

Hi!! I was wondering if you still have your essay? 🙂

Immigration has changed the world. It is very important we need to be united as a human being.

Sadly, unity isn’t always the case. With large numbers of immigrants, they create their own community and can often fail to integrate properly as a result. You don’t have to integrate if all those around you are of the same culture as yourself.

“Also, if low-skilled jobs are filled by migrants, it enables native-born workers to gain better-skilled work elsewhere.”

This would be good if companies actually trained people. Many companies now only want experienced people, leaving the jobs that immigrants fill as the only viable alternative for some. If immigrants are filling those jobs, those unskilled and inexperienced native born workers are left without jobs and unable to get experience to get a job elsewhere. I have done fruit packing for agencies myself in the past as a fill-in when I have been between jobs, now all agency work is done by immigrants, so this option is closed to us as an alternative means of income.

I mean you are ignoring SO MANY other factors that contributed to economic growth and expansion between 1890 and 1920….like literally so many. No way could the growth during that time be contributed to immigration. The majority of financial gain came from WW1 where the U.S emerged with a small empire. We used this opportunity to further spread our influence into other countries like the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Nicaragua; taking financial control of these countries in the process. We also went on the gold standard in 1900, causing prices to rise and increase productivity in the mining industry and other related industries. The Federal Reserve was established as well, bringing with it more economic security. We also raised taxes like crazy after WW1 to help pay back loans taken out by the government during the war which ended up over quadrupling the tax income for the country…..economics is not a solitary concept. It is related to everything and affects everything. All factors need to be taken into account before taking a random statistic out of context to help support your agenda. Bt I’m all for legal immigration, I’m just not for unsupported research on which these claims are based off of

wwI was not for 25 years dumbo

where is the report button???

Even during the 1890 and 1920, there was substantial immigration to the US, exception being they were all from Europe.

I think immigration is always good because it makes diversity in a nation in terms of culture, tradition etc.

That’s fine when the two cultures can co-exist. It becomes a problem when the cultures have laws and religions that are completely at odds.

who was the publisher

http://www.economicshelp.org

Hallo I’m Nona

This was kind of very helpful,

This was helpful. Thanks.

mass immigration is the only thing i havent made my mind about it. the more i read about it, the more complex it becomes to me.

Comments are closed.

27 Immigration Pros and Cons

Immigration has both positive and negative impacts on host countries, and immigration policies need to be cleverly designed to promote positive outcomes and reduce concerns for the local population.

Advantages of immigration include the fact migrants help stimulate economic growth, fill labor market gaps, and introduce cultural diversity for local populations to enjoy. Without migration, populations would decline within a generation for all G7 nations.

However, disadvantages of immigration include conflict of values and attitudes between immigrant and local populations, potential costs to the taxpayer, and potential changes to a nation’s collective identity.

The below pros and cons play ‘devil’s advocate’ and not all reflect my personal views – in fact, some I don’t have a strong opinion about one way or another. But it’s also worth noting that I myself am an immigrant!

Immigration Pros and Cons

Pros of immigration.

1. Economic Growth: There is consensus among mainstream economists (e.g. Ehrlich & Pei, 2021) that an absorbable rate of immigration leads to a phenomenon called the “immigration surplus”, at least in the short-term. This is an observable phenomenon whereby immigration tends to cause an increase in the wages of locals. Notably, this surplus tends to be higher if the immigrant are highly-skilled, as Borjas (1995, p. 15) argues: “immigration surplus may be larger when the immigrant flow is composed of skilled workers.”

2. Fills Gaps in the Labor Market: A well-designed immigration policy will attract workers who will fill jobs that are unfillable with the local labor force. For example, visa classes can be introduced in industries that may not be attractive to locals, or in industries such as medicine where there is a lack of skilled workers among the local population.

3. Cultural Diversity : Immigration brings cultural diversity to the host country, leading to a more multicultural society, and introducing an exciting mix of cultural festivals, foods, and belief systems that can provide locals with a richer array of cultural experiences from the comfort of their home cities.

4. Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Studies such as this one by Vandor (2021) suggest that immigrants are more likely to start businesses, stimulating innovation and economic growth. Hypotheses suggest that this may be because the cohort of people who engage in voluntary migration may be more likely to take risks and may set up businesses due to discrimination in the workforce.

5. To Maintain Population Growth: Wealthy and developed nations tend not to have sufficient fertility rate to maintain sufficient population growth. To maintain current population, a nation needs a replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman . Furthermore, population growth has been one of the main drivers of economic prosperity within nations over the past 100 years. So, population growth is a good thing for the prosperity of a nation, at least in the short-term. But as the following data shows, no G7 nation has a fertility rate that matches replacement rate:

6. To pay for Aging Populations: As noted above, many developed nations turn to immigration because their local population does not reproduce at a high enough rate to replace the aging local population. If there are insufficient working-age people compared to retirees, there is a lot of strain on the nation’s budget. The costs of welfare for the elderly needs to be paid by a large working-age population that is only large enough thanks to immigration!

6. Global Connections: Immigration can foster international relationships and cooperation, which can be beneficial for trade and diplomacy. The more interconnected a nation is with its global partners, the more they are likely to trade, interact, travel, and support one another. This promotes not only economic prosperity between nations, but also regional peace and stability.

7. Increased Consumer Demand: A larger population due to immigration boosts demand for goods and services, stimulating the economy. For example, a large nation like the USA has a competitive advantage partly because of the large domestic consumer market that businesses can tap into in order to grow and prosper. Simply, large countries have large domestic markets that are good for domestic companies.

8. Tax Revenues: Immigrants contribute to tax revenues, helping to fund public services. For example, this article argues that immigrants pay around 30% of the taxes in the USA, despite only accounting for about 13.5% of the population. (Note that other studies from right-wing sources have found the opposite – see the ‘cons’ section).

10. Global Humanitarian Reputation: Accepting refugees and immigrants can improve a country’s international reputation. Furthermore, it can ensure a nation maintains a commitment to being a good global citizen, absorbing its fair share of the asylum seekers living in camps around the world waiting for a host nation to accept them.

11. New Ideas: Immigrants can bring new ideas and perspectives that enhance innovation and creativity. For example, Elon Musk is an immigrant to the USA, having been born in South Africa and educated in Canada. He made the USA home and brought with him innovative entrepreneurship that gave us SpaceX and Tesla.

12. Managing Seasonal Demand: A well-designed migration system can also help manage seasonal demand, such as for seasonal worker visas where temporary migrants come to a nation during harvest season in the USA and Australia, or to work at the ski resorts in Canadian winters.

Cons of Immigration

1. Job Competition: Immigration can occasionally lead to increased competition for jobs, potentially impacting the employment opportunities for locals. While many migration systems attempt to offset this by enforcing labor market impact statements upon employers before hiring overseas workers, there are undoubtedly case studies of people missing out on a job that was given to an immigrant, especially if the immigrant is on an open work visa (I can even think of a situation where my wife missed a job that was given to an immigrant).

2. Overpopulation: Excessive immigration can lead to uncontrolled population growth, leading to overcrowding and strain on infrastructure. Immigration needs to have a long-view, where the ‘immigrant surplus’ isn’t just short-term, but pays for longer-term situations such as when migrants rely on the nation’s welfare system and where they can offset the costs of new schools, transit infrastructure, etc. (Ehrlich & Pei, 2021).

3. Cultural Friction: The integration of new cultures may lead to social tension and conflict. This is often due to unacceptable discrimination and prejudice. However, some valid concerns may exist when cultural norms come up against one another in public spaces.

4. Exploitation: Immigrants, particularly those undocumented, may be exploited by employers due to their precarious status. This commonly happens to people whose visa is tied to a specific job. In such cases, the boss has strong coercion over the employee, who can be sent back to their home country if they lose their job, which can make them feel stuck with a bad or exploitative boss.

5. Tax Strain: While earlier I cited a study that immigrants pay more into the tax system than they get out, other studies (Grubel & Grady, 2011) have noted that immigrants to Canada cost taxpayers $6,051 per immigrant. This same study also noted that “newcomers pay about half as much in income taxes as other Canadians.” However, without questioning the findings of the study, it is worth noting as a matter of media literacy for my readers that both the study and the newspaper in which it was reported have known right-wing ideological stances.

6. Wage Suppression: The introduction of low-skilled immigrant workers could potentially suppress wages in certain sectors. I noted earlier that this is not the case for skilled migration. But unskilled migrants have less of an immigrant surplus effect (Ehrlich & Pei, 2021), which implies that a good immigration policy that is sustainable for a nation should not have an open door to unskilled migration, and ensure there is a strong mix of skilled migrants entering the country.

7. Security Concerns: Some argue that immigration could pose a security risk. This is likely dependent on the effectiveness of immigration controls. It is hard to deny that there would be case studies out there of immigrants committing serious crimes and even leading to deaths of locals. Nevertheless, this study by Ajzenman, Dominguez and Undurraga (2022) found that immigration does not overall increase crime rates.

8. Social Integration Issues : Immigrants might struggle to integrate into the host society, leading to social divisions and situations where migrants tend to cluster together in suburbs. This is a reasonable and understandable phenomenon – chain migrants who move to be with family and friends will want to live together, after all.

9. Brain Drain: When skilled migrants come to a nation for work, there is a negative effect on the other end – in their home nation. The emigration of skilled workers from their home countries can lead to a brain drain, which might slow development in those countries.

10. Economic Dependence: Immigrants who cannot find work may depend on social welfare systems, leading to economic burden on the host country. I have already cited mixed insights from two different studies on this topic, but on a case-by-case basis, this of course has happened in some circumstances.

11. Language Barriers: Language differences can lead to communication difficulties and slow integration into society. This is one reason why migrants often have to take language tests. I needed to take one when I came to Canada, even though English is my first language.

12. Shifts in National Identity: Large-scale immigration can lead to concerns about shifts in national identity and cultural norms. This is one key worry of many people, who want to feel as if they live among people who share their values; without sufficient positive regard between immigrants and locals, concerns may occur.

13. Housing Demand: An increase in population due to immigration can lead to higher demand for housing, leading to potential housing shortages or increased housing costs. In nations like Australia and Canada, where housing prices have soared over the past 20 years, migration is one of many factors – but still an important concern that needs to be considered by policy makers before deciding to allow for migration to happen.

14. Political Polarization: Immigration can be a polarizing issue and lead to political unrest or division. While this is not a reason in and of itself to stop immigration from happening, it is still a possible negative externality of a migration policy.

15. Public Health Concerns : If not properly managed, immigration can lead to public health concerns, especially if immigrants come from regions with endemic diseases. For example, before I migrated to Canada, I had to get a full health check-up and had to be tested for various diseases, so I wouldn’t bring them to the country and so I wouldn’t put undue pressure on the public health system.

Nations with highest Migration

I thought it might be interesting to conclude with some graphs for you, demonstrating how your country compares to other countries in terms of migrants per year.

There are two ways we could dissect this: total migration, and migration per capita. I think per capita makes more sense, because it shows how many migrants a country takes in, in proportion to its population, giving a more accurate reflection of how open a nation is to immigration.

I thought it was really interesting that the USA and Germany are number 1 and 2 for overall raw migration figures, they’re not even in the top 20 for migrants per capita

1. Raw Migration Figures

Here that is, as a table:

2. Migrants per Capita

Read Next: Why do People Migrate?

As an immigrant to Canada, I am grateful for the change to enjoy migration. However, having been settled here for some time, I, too am concerned about having a smart and controlled migration system. I enjoyed many benefits of migration – from the fact I come from one liberal western nation to another (Australia to Canada) so there was minimal culture shock and shared values between my home and host nations. My then partner, now wife, is also Canadian, so my transition was very easy. But I’m also proud to have started a business in Canada and be making a net contribution to my new home. As an immigrant, I do think it’s the migrant’s population to do their civic duty and contribute to the positive development of their new home.

Ajzenman, N., Dominguez, P., & Undurraga, R. (2022). Immigration, crime, and crime (mis) perceptions. Available at SSRN 4258034 .

Ehrlich, I., & Pei, Y. (2021). Endogenous immigration, human and physical capital formation, and the immigration surplus. Journal of Human Capital , 15 (1), 34-85.

Grubel, H. & Grady, P. (2011). Immigration and the Canadian Welfare State. Fraser Institue .

Vandor, P. (2021). Are voluntary international migrants self-selected for entrepreneurship? An analysis of entrepreneurial personality traits. Journal of World Business , 56 (2), 101142. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2020.101142  

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Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Immigration Essay

This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of immigration. It will discuss the economic, cultural, and social impacts of immigration on host countries and immigrants themselves, providing a balanced view of this complex issue. At PapersOwl, you’ll also come across free essay samples that pertain to Immigration.

How it works

Jumping into the buzzing world of immigration, are we? It’s like that song that’s stuck in your head—some love it, some have reservations. But instead of just humming along, let’s really dive into the lyrics. Let’s unwrap the layers, from the feel-good vibes to the tougher notes, and explore what immigration truly means.

• 1 The Upsides: Let’s Start with the Good Stuff!
• 2 The Downsides: Not Everything’s Peachy
• 3 Bottom Line

The Upsides: Let’s Start with the Good Stuff!

When we chat about immigration, there’s some seriously cool stuff to highlight. First off, think about diversity and culture.

Ever been to a place where every corner feels like a rerun of the last? Yawn! But toss in a sprinkle of immigration, and suddenly you’ve got a colorful tapestry of traditions, foods, and stories. It’s like waking up to a new episode of your favorite show every day!

Then there’s the economic side. Immigrants, in many ways, give the economy a little pep in its step. They’re often eager to work, create businesses, and toss their coins into the community pot. It’s like inviting that friend over who not only brings snacks but also helps clean up. They’re not just here to take but to give and uplift. And let’s not forget the fresh ideas they bring to the table. Ever heard the saying, “Two heads are better than one?” Now imagine that with millions of heads from all over the globe. That’s a powerhouse of innovation! So yeah, immigration has its shiny perks!

The Downsides: Not Everything’s Peachy

Okay, while there’s a lot of sunshine and rainbows when it comes to immigration, we can’t ignore the cloudy days. Just like too much of anything can get overwhelming, there are moments when the influx of people can strain the resources of a place. Imagine inviting over a bunch of friends for dinner, but you didn’t prepare for that many mouths. Schools, hospitals, and public services can feel that kind of pressure when there’s an unexpected surge in population.

Then, there’s the whole blending of cultures thing. It’s not always a smoothie of harmony. Sometimes, it’s more of a chunky blend where bits and pieces don’t quite mix. These cultural clashes can stir up tension and misunderstandings, leaving folks scratching their heads or, worse, pointing fingers.

And let’s talk jobs. The age-old concern that newcomers might, somehow, swipe away job opportunities is a real fear for some. It’s like the anxiety of someone taking that last slice of pie you’ve been eyeing. Lastly, the legal procedure maze can turn the immigration experience into a frustrating board game with too many rules. Thus, not everything’s a walk in the park with immigration.

Bottom Line

So, here’s the scoop: immigration, like many things in life, isn’t just black and white. It’s a whirlwind of experiences, bringing in vibrant hues of culture and fresh breezes of innovation while stirring up stormy challenges. But isn’t that what life’s all about? Embracing the mix, navigating the hurdles, and celebrating the wins. At the heart of it all, it’s about people, dreams, and journeys. Thus, while the road of immigration might have its bumps and twists, it can lead to some breathtaking views. In the end, it’s all about perspective and understanding.

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Apr 10, 2023

How To Write Essays About Immigration (With Examples)

Immigrants bring diverse perspectives and skills that can enrich our societies and economies. If you want to gain insight into the impact of immigration on society and culture, keep reading!

Immigration, a subject deeply woven into the fabric of global discussions, touches on political, economic, and social nuances. As globalization propels many to seek new horizons, understanding the multifaceted impacts of migration is crucial. Crafting a compelling essay on such a vast topic requires more than just research; it demands the delicate weaving of insights into a coherent narrative. For those keen on delivering a polished essay on immigration, considering assistance from a reliable essay writing tool can be a game-changer. This tool not only refines the craft of writing but ensures your perspectives on immigration are articulated with clarity and precision.

Here are our Top 5 Essay Examples and Ideas about Immigration:

The economic impact of immigration on host countries, introduction.

In many nations, immigration has been a hotly debated issue, with supporters and opponents disputing how it would affect the home nation. The economic impact of immigration on host countries is one of the essential components of this discussion. Immigration's economic effects may be favorable or harmful, depending on many circumstances.

This article will examine the economic effects of immigration on the receiving nations, examining both the advantages and disadvantages that immigration may have. You will better know how immigration impacts a nation's economy and the variables that influence it after this article.

Immigration's effects on labor markets

An essential component of the total economic impact of immigration is how it affects labor markets. Immigration may affect labor markets, including shifting labor supply and demand, opening new job possibilities, and perhaps affecting local employees' earnings and prospects. This section will examine how immigration affects labor markets in receiving nations.

The shift in the labor supply is one of immigration's most apparent effects on labor markets. When more employees are available in the host nation due to immigration, there may be more competition for open positions. In fields that serve immigrant populations, such as ethnic food shops or language schools, immigrants can also generate new jobs.

Another significant impact of immigration on labor markets is its effect on wages and income distribution. Some studies have suggested that immigration can reduce wages for native workers, particularly those who are less educated or have lower skill levels. 

Immigrants can also contribute to economic growth and innovation, which can positively impact labor markets. Immigrants often have unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that can help drive innovation and create new job opportunities in the host country. Furthermore, immigrants are often more entrepreneurial and more likely to start businesses, which can generate new jobs and contribute to economic growth.

The effect of immigration on wages and income distribution

The effect of immigration on wages and income distribution is a crucial area of concern in the overall economic impact of immigration. Immigration can affect wages and income distribution in various ways, which can have significant implications for both native workers and immigrants. In this section, we will explore the effect of immigration on wages and income distribution in host countries.

One of the primary ways that immigration can impact wages and income distribution is by changing the supply and demand of labor. With an influx of immigrants, the labor supply increases, which can lead to increased competition for jobs. Some studies suggest that immigration harms wages for native workers, while others offer no significant effect.

Another way that immigration can impact wages and income distribution is through its effect on the composition of the workforce. Immigrants often fill low-skilled jobs in industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality, which tend to pay lower wages. 

Immigration can also impact income distribution by contributing to the overall level of economic inequality in a host country. While immigration can lead to lower wages for some native workers, it can also lead to higher wages and increased economic mobility for some immigrants. Furthermore, immigrants may face various barriers to upward mobility, such as discrimination or lack of access to education and training. This can lead to increased income inequality between native and immigrant workers.

The contribution of immigrants to economic growth and innovation

Immigrants have historically played a significant role in driving economic growth and innovation in host countries. In this section, we will explore the contribution of immigrants to economic growth and innovation and the factors that enable them to do so.

One of the primary ways that immigrants contribute to economic growth is through their entrepreneurial activities. Immigrants are often more likely to start their businesses than native-born individuals, and these businesses can create jobs and drive economic growth. Immigrant entrepreneurs have contributed to developing industries such as technology, healthcare, and hospitality. Additionally, immigrants are often overrepresented in STEM fields, which is critical to driving innovation and economic growth.

Another way that immigrants contribute to economic growth is through their impact on the labor force. Immigrants tend to be more mobile than native-born individuals, which can lead to a more flexible and adaptable workforce. Immigrants also tend to fill critical roles in industries such as healthcare and agriculture, which are essential to maintaining the functioning of the economy. By filling these roles, immigrants contribute to the overall productivity and growth of the economy.

The costs and benefits of social welfare programs for immigrants

The issue of social welfare programs for immigrants has been a controversial topic in many host countries. In this section, we will explore the costs and benefits of social welfare programs for immigrants and the policy implications.

One of the primary benefits of social welfare programs for immigrants is that they can help reduce poverty and promote social inclusion. Immigrants often face significant barriers to economic mobility, such as language barriers and discrimination. Social welfare programs can help provide a safety net for those struggling to make ends meet and promote social cohesion by reducing inequalities.

However, social welfare programs for immigrants also come with costs. One concern is that these programs may attract immigrants primarily seeking to access social welfare benefits rather than contributing to the economy. This can strain public finances and create resentment among native-born individuals who feel their tax dollars are being used to support immigrants.

Another concern is that social welfare programs may create disincentives for immigrants to work and contribute to the economy. If the benefits of social welfare programs are too generous, some immigrants may choose to rely on them rather than seek employment. This can create long-term dependence and reduce overall economic productivity.

The impact of immigration on public finances and fiscal policies

The effect of immigration on public finances and fiscal policies is a topic of significant interest and debate. This section will explore how immigration affects public finances and how host countries can implement budgetary policies to manage the impact.

One way that immigration can impact public finances is through taxes. Immigrants who are employed and pay taxes can contribute to the tax base of the host country, which can provide additional revenue for public services and infrastructure. However, immigrants who are not employed or earn low wages may contribute fewer taxes, which can strain public finances. 

Fiscal policies can be used to manage the impact of immigration on public finances. One guideline is to increase taxes on immigrants to offset the costs of public services they use. However, this can create a disincentive for highly skilled and educated immigrants to migrate to the host country. Another policy is to increase spending on public services to accommodate the needs of immigrants. However, this can strain public finances and lead to resentment among native-born individuals who feel their tax dollars are being used to support immigrants.

In conclusion, the economic impact of immigration is a complex issue with both costs and benefits for host countries. Immigration can impact labor markets, wages and income distribution, economic growth and innovation, social welfare programs, public finances, and fiscal policies. 

The social and cultural implications of immigration

Immigration has social and cultural implications that affect both immigrants and host countries. The movement of people from one place to another can result in a blending of cultures, traditions, and ideas. At the same time, immigration can also result in social and cultural tensions as different groups struggle to integrate and adjust to new environments. 

The social and cultural implications of immigration have become increasingly important in today's globalized world as the movement of people across borders has become more common. In this article, we will explore the various social and cultural implications of immigration and how they impact immigrants and host communities.

The impact of immigration on social cohesion and integration

Immigration has a significant impact on social cohesion and integration in host countries. Social cohesion refers to the degree to which members of a society feel connected and share a sense of belonging. In contrast, integration refers to the process by which immigrants become a part of the host society. Immigration can either enhance or hinder social cohesion and integration, depending on how it is managed and perceived by the host society.

Another factor that can impact social cohesion and integration is the level of diversity within the host society. Increased diversity can lead to greater cultural exchange and understanding but also social tensions and the formation of segregated communities. Promoting social interaction and cooperation among diverse groups can help mitigate these tensions and promote social cohesion.

The perception of immigrants by the host society also plays a significant role in social cohesion and integration. Negative stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes can hinder integration and create barriers to social cohesion. On the other hand, positive attitudes towards immigrants and their contributions to society can facilitate integration and promote social cohesion.

The role of language and communication in the integration of immigrants

Language and communication play a crucial role in integrating immigrants into host societies. Immigrants may need the ability to communicate effectively with others to overcome significant barriers to social and economic integration. Language and communication skills are essential for accessing education, finding employment, and participating in civic life.

Language is one of the primary barriers immigrants face when integrating into a new society. Without proficiency in the host country's language, immigrants may struggle to understand instructions, participate in conversations, and access essential services. This can lead to social isolation and hinder economic opportunities.

Language training programs are one way to address this issue. Effective language training programs can help immigrants learn the host country's language and develop the communication skills necessary for successful integration. These programs can also give immigrants the cultural knowledge and understanding essential to navigate the host society.

The effect of immigration on cultural diversity and identity

Immigration can significantly impact the cultural diversity and identity of both host societies and immigrant communities. The cultural exchange resulting from immigration can enrich societies and provide opportunities for learning and growth. However, immigration can also pose challenges to preserving cultural identities and maintaining social cohesion.

One of the primary ways in which immigration affects cultural diversity and identity is through the introduction of new customs, traditions, and beliefs. Immigrant communities often bring unique cultural practices, such as food, music, and art, that can enhance the cultural landscape of the host society. Exposure to new cultures can broaden the perspectives of individuals and communities, leading to greater tolerance and understanding.

The challenges and benefits of multiculturalism in host countries

Multiculturalism refers to the coexistence of different cultural groups within a society. It is a concept that has become increasingly important in modern societies characterized by race, ethnicity, religion, and language diversity. 

Multiculturalism is often promoted to promote tolerance, social cohesion, and the celebration of diversity. 

Challenges of multiculturalism

Multiculturalism presents a range of challenges that can impact host societies. These challenges include social division, discrimination, language barriers, and cultural clashes. For example, when immigrants share different values or traditions than the host society, this can lead to misunderstandings and conflict. Similarly, language barriers can limit communication and make it difficult for immigrants to integrate into the host society.

Benefits of multiculturalism

Multiculturalism can also bring a range of benefits to host societies. These benefits include increased cultural awareness and sensitivity, economic growth, and exchanging ideas and perspectives. For example, cultural diversity can provide opportunities for host societies to learn from different cultural practices and approaches to problem-solving. This can lead to innovation and growth.

Social cohesion

Social cohesion refers to the ability of a society to function harmoniously despite differences in culture, ethnicity, religion, and language. Multiculturalism can pose a challenge to social cohesion, but it can also promote it. Host societies can foster social cohesion by promoting the acceptance and understanding of different cultural groups. This can be achieved through policies and programs that promote intercultural dialogue, education, and community-building.

Discrimination and prejudice

Multiculturalism can also increase the risk of discrimination and prejudice. Discrimination can take many forms, including racial, religious, and cultural bias. Host societies can combat discrimination by implementing anti-discrimination laws and policies and promoting diversity and inclusion.

Economic benefits

Multiculturalism can also bring economic benefits to host societies. The presence of a diverse range of skills and talents can lead to innovation and economic growth. Immigrants can also get various skills and experiences contributing to the host society's economic development.

In conclusion, immigration has significant social and cultural implications for both host countries and immigrants. It affects social cohesion, integration, cultural diversity, and identity. Host countries face challenges and benefits of multiculturalism, including economic growth, innovation, and social change.

The role of immigration in shaping national identity

Immigration has always been a significant driver of cultural and social change, with immigrants often bringing their unique identities, values, and traditions to their new homes. As a result, immigration can play a crucial role in shaping national identity, as it challenges existing cultural norms and values and introduces new ideas and perspectives. 

In this article, we will explore the role of immigration in shaping national identity, including its effects on cultural diversity, social cohesion, and political discourse. We will also discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by immigration to national identity and the importance of embracing a diverse and inclusive national identity in today's globalized world.

Immigration and the evolution of national identity

The relationship between immigration and national identity is complex, as immigration can challenge and reinforce existing national identities. As immigrants bring new cultural practices and values, they challenge the existing norms and values of the host society, prompting a re-evaluation of what it means to be part of that society. This can create a more inclusive and diverse national identity as different cultural traditions and practices are recognized and celebrated.

At the same time, the influx of new immigrants can also create a sense of fear and anxiety among some members of the host society, who may view the changes brought about by immigration as a threat to their cultural identity. This can lead to calls for stricter immigration policies and a more limited definition of national identity, which can exclude or marginalize certain groups.

The role of immigrants in shaping cultural diversity

Immigrants have played a significant role in shaping cultural diversity in many countries. Their arrival in a new land brings their customs, traditions, beliefs, and practices, which contribute to society's richness and vibrancy. 

One of the key ways in which immigrants have shaped cultural diversity is through their contributions to the local community. Immigrants bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, and talents that can benefit the societies they move to. For example, they may introduce new cuisines, music, art, and literature that add to the cultural landscape of their new home. This can create a more diverse and inclusive society where different cultures are celebrated and appreciated.

Another important aspect of cultural diversity is the challenges immigrants face when adapting to a new culture. Moving to a new country can be a daunting experience, especially if the culture is vastly different from one's own. Immigrants may struggle with language barriers, cultural norms, and social customs that are unfamiliar to them. This can lead to feelings of isolation and exclusion, which can negatively impact their mental health and well-being.

The challenges of maintaining social cohesion amidst diversity

Strengthening social cohesion amidst diversity is a complex challenge many societies face today. Cultural, ethnic, religious, and language diversity can lead to tensions and conflicts if managed poorly. 

One of the main challenges of maintaining social cohesion amidst diversity is the need to balance the interests of different groups. This involves recognizing and respecting the cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity of society while also promoting a sense of shared identity and common values. This can be particularly challenging in contexts with competing interests and power imbalances between different groups.

Another challenge is the need to address discrimination and prejudice. Discrimination can take many forms, including unequal access to education, employment, housing, hate speech, and violence. Prejudice and stereotypes can also lead to social exclusion and marginalization of certain groups. Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort from the government, civil society, and individuals to promote tolerance and respect for diversity.

Promoting inclusive policies is another crucial factor in maintaining social cohesion amidst diversity. This includes policies promoting equal opportunities for all, regardless of background. This can involve affirmative action programs, targeted social policies, and support for minority groups. Inclusive policies can also create a sense of belonging and ownership among different groups, which helps foster social cohesion.

In conclusion, immigration profoundly influences the formation of national identity. As individuals from various backgrounds merge into a new country, they not only introduce their distinct cultural and ethnic traits but also embark on a journey of personal growth and adaptation. This process mirrors the development of key skills such as leadership, character, and community service, essential for thriving in diverse environments. These attributes are not only vital for immigrants as they integrate into society but are also exemplified in successful National Honor Society essays , where personal growth and societal contribution are celebrated. Thus, the experiences of immigrants significantly enrich the societal tapestry, reflecting in our collective values, beliefs, and practices.

To sum it all up:

To recapitulate writing a five-paragraph essay about immigration can be challenging, but with the right approach and resources, it can be a rewarding experience. Throughout this article, we have discussed the various aspects of immigration that one can explore in such an essay, including the economic impact, social and cultural implications, and the evolution of national identity. 

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21 Big Pros and Cons of Immigration

Immigration is defined as the intentional movement of an individual to a destination country of which they do not possess citizenship. The reasons for immigration are many. Some travel to a new country to become migrant or foreign workers. Others may wish to settle in as a permanent resident, with the goal of eventually becoming a naturalized citizen.

Only a handful of countries see a net positive migration rate each year. Australia, Canada, the United States, Russia, and most of Western Europe make that list. Those with net migration losses include most of the countries on the continents of South America and Africa.

In 2015, the number of people who participated in immigration opportunities worldwide totaled 244 million. Since 2000, the number of people who are migrating to a new country has risen by 41%. More than 30% of the world’s immigrants live in just 20 countries, with the U.S. seeing 19% of the world’s international migrants.

In 2012, Gallup took a survey regarding immigration and found that 640 million people would move to a different country if given the opportunity. The United States was the top destination in the survey, with 23% of people choosing it as their top destination choice.

Here are some of the pros and cons of immigration to consider.

List of the Pros of Immigration

1. Immigration diversifies local economies. Immigrants bring new perspectives, experiences, and ideas to their local communities. With this added diversification, there is more strength to be found within the community. Immigrants start businesses, earn an income, and support others on the local level. This creates an increase in local production, which creates more profits, which further helps the economy. Strong economies that are based on immigrant perspectives tend to find the most success.

2. It increases the population base. In the United States, about 800,000 people become naturalized U.S. citizens. To achieve this goal, they first had to be a legalized immigrant. Their presence does more than bring an exchange of cultures. It allows for more knowledge and wisdom to be shared with others. By increasing the cultural awareness of everyone, more moments of common ground can be found.

3. Immigration helps to create a global market. Immigrants do more than create stronger local economies. They also help to contribute to a stronger global economy. Remittances are common in nations that invite immigrants. More than 40% of the GDP of Guatemala, for example, comes through remittances provided by immigrants who have made their way to the United States. Immigrants who have more opportunities to pursue advanced education or high-skill employment can take those skills back to their home country to improve its status as well.

4. It creates a fairer level of population distribution. People often come from overpopulated countries to find new opportunities for themselves. The idea of the “American Dream” is not present in every country in the world. There are only 33 out of 200+ nations that are considered to be developed. Immigration allows people from under-developed countries to create opportunities for themselves that would normally not be available to them.

5. Immigration promotes lower levels of crime. Although immigrants, especially illegal immigrants, are often promoted as a precursor for increased local crime, the opposite usually occurs. In Texas, a survey of prisoners within the state’s Department of Justice found that illegal immigrants were under-represented in prison populations. Although illegal immigrants make up more than 6% of the state’s population, they are just 4.6% of the inmates housed in state-level prisons. Immigrants are 69% less likely to be imprisoned when compared to native citizens.

6. It encourages entrepreneurism. Many immigrants are natural entrepreneurs. They are often highly educated, extensively trained, and very inventive when establishing a new idea. Immigrants are also highly productive, making it possible to create new jobs, drive innovation, or make existing businesses become more flexible. Their presence makes it easier to establish worker specialization, which makes it easier for all businesses to invest more into their employees.

7. Immigration benefits most families in the country. Immigration isn’t about having one group of people try to take jobs from another. It is the process of a family trying to provide for themselves and contribute to their local community. Even when considering illegal immigration, the average person doesn’t come to a new nation because they’re looking to cause trouble. Most want to contribute, which is why the presence of immigrants is beneficial to virtually everyone.

8. It raises the GDP. When immigration occurs at natural levels, it creates a small increase in the national GDP. The productivity of immigrants can boost the GDP by as much as 0.4% in a single year. Although that doesn’t seem like much, a one-tenth increase in U.S. GDP equates to $18 billion in economic impacts. That means immigration provides a total annual value to the economy of up to $72 billion each year.

9. Immigration negates gaps that form in certain labor markets. In low-skill employment areas, it is true that a strong presence of immigrants may depress wages. From a general labor market standpoint, however, immigration helps to fill in the gaps which can form when there is a low unemployment rate. Because immigrants can relieve employment bottlenecks, they reduce the risk of under-performance issues occurring in the local economy. When the income levels of immigrants rise, so do the incomes of every other household.

10. It encourages economic recovery. Immigrants are more likely to move to a new location to pursue a job opportunity than native citizens. That means places that are struggling economically can begin to experience recovery with greater speed as immigrants come to work. Even when the occupations were high-tech jobs, it was immigrants who kept the labor market moving forward because of their expertise.

11. Immigration encourages lower prices at the point-of-sale. Immigration workers are not the only ones that benefit from their presence at the local level. The complementary workers involved in each industry benefit as well. That means supervisors, attorneys, and translators all have new opportunities available to them which they may not have had otherwise. As demands for new workers rise, the prices tend to fall for goods and services, which allows everyone to benefit from the lower costs.

List of the Cons of Immigration

1. Immigration can cause over-population issues. The wealthiest nations of the world tend to be the most popular destinations for immigration. That means there can be over-population issues in wealthy countries, while under-population issues can begin to form in the developing world. When population levels become imbalanced, then it can cause resource access issues at the local level in regions where high levels of immigration take place.

2. It encourages disease transmission. Many diseases are transferred to new regions because of the processes of immigration. The devastation of smallpox on the local tribal populations of North America is widely documented. Disease-causing agents transfer across borders with immigrants, which can have a negative impact on the local population that may not be regularly exposed to certain conditions. Screening processes can limit this impact somewhat, although there is always the possibility of having something slip through.

3. Immigration can create wage disparities. When immigrants come from the developing world to the developed world, they may be willing to take employment opportunities for a much lower wage than a local non-immigrant. If there are enough people to work for lower wages, it can create a wage disparity in the local population that can affect job growth. Less income means fewer supportive employment opportunities because less cash is being spent.

4. It creates stressors on educational and health resources. Immigrants come to make a new life for themselves. Many contribute to their local economies without question. There is an initial investment that communities must make, however, to help these families establish themselves. Children must be educated. Healthcare services must be offered. There is no guarantee that immigrating families will stay in those communities, which means the investments being made may never earn dividends.

5. Immigration reduces the chances of a developing nation. When a developing country sees its best and brightest immigrate to the developed world, they lose an opportunity to advance. The talents which people bring, especially to a nation that is poor, helps it to become stronger. Immigration gives that strength away to other countries which may not need it. Immigrants do get the chance to plan a better life for themselves, though it comes at the expense of their native country.

6. It is easier to exploit immigrants. Labor laws have not caught up to the modern practices of immigration. Even when people are in a new country legally, it is easier to report them to the police as a possible illegal immigrant than fulfill an obligation. Filing false charges, refusing to pay owed wages, and even physical abuse is more common within immigrant circles than it is within the native population. The Mercury News reviewed union elections and found that in at least 50% of campaigns involving a majority of undocumented workforces, threats were made to call immigration over the unionizing activities.

7. Immigration activities may create integration difficulties. Diversity is not something that everyone readily embraces. Bringing in new perspectives, ethnicities, or cultures into an established community can sometimes cause friction. People are often fearful of what they do not know, which means there is a basic fear associated with immigrants when they first move to a community. That can lead to higher levels of security monitoring, negative personal interactions, and even more false police reports being filed in an effort to “prevent” trouble from happening.

8. It can place stress on local social services. Having a large group of immigrants move into a region can also place stress points on social services related to employment. There may be an increased need for food bank services, food stamps, and basic housing services. That can place stress on the budgets of these services, which may encourage local councils to propose higher tax rates to cover potential shortfalls. Even if immigrants have a positive influence on the economy over time, the short-term costs may be too much for some communities to bear.

9. Immigration can split up families. Extended immigration is not a common practice. One family is usually permitted to become migrants to a new country destination. That practice creates social problems for children who might be left behind by the rest of their family. It may also reduce their standard of living in their country because there are fewer opportunities available for family employment.

10. It can result in human rights violations. Immigration, or the desire to become a migrant, can put some individuals into a state of desperation. If it becomes difficult for some individuals to migrate, the development of people trafficking may offer new opportunities that seem positive at first, then turn negative for the individual. These movements can even facilitate organized crime activities in extreme situations.

These pros and cons of immigration show that diversity can be a good thing. If immigration occurs legally, then local communities often see many benefits develop over time. There are certainly some challenges that must be addressed with the practice of immigration, especially when it occurs illegally. Those challenges, however, are often outweighed by the benefits which immigration provides.

Essay on Immigration, Its Issues, Pros and Cons

In this article, you will read Essay on immigration. Also read its issues, causes, pros and cons effects. This is an argumentative essay in 1000 words for students.

So, let’s start this Essay on Immigration…

Table of Contents

Introduction (Essay on Immigration – 1000 Words)

Humankind has been immigrating from the dawn of time to explore an unfamiliar area in the world and build their own civilisations. But in today’s world, if you want to go from your native country and settle permanently in a different country, there are many immigration laws through which you have to apply for the citizenship of the country to which you wish to migrate. The present gap between the rich and developing countries is widening, which is leading to more of the migration both legally and illegally. 

Immigration is nowadays becoming a global issue from the economic and a business point of view. The population of some countries is growing since people are migrating to other countries seeking a better life.

But considering giving up your native citizenship, uprooting your entire life, and moving to a new country where you don’t know anyone and have to start your life from scratch is considered a courageous act. Apart from adopting a different lifestyle, parting pain from immediate family, lack of government support, unemployment, etc. are some issues migrants might face. 

Even though immigration is not all beds of roses, there are a lot of reasons people try to escape their native lands, which can be divided into push and pull factors. We also know push factors as driving factors where the people wish to leave their motherland, and the pull factor stands for the reason the individuals want to settle in a new area. These factors can be social, economic, political , and environmental .

Immigration to the USA and Canada

The USA is a land the immigrants built and flourish that. But today the USA is facing immigration pressure as there is an influx of working immigrants’ waves from the poor regions, even though they already have a massive group of skilled migrants and asylees. Ever since 11th September, American immigration laws have become more robust.

America is also deciding to build a wall to stop the influx of migrants from their poor neighbouring regions, especially to the south of their area. Most of the immigrants come to the USA for survival, especially those who are migrating from Mexico because of their country’s poverty. 

Compared to the USA, Canada also has been mostly shaped by immigrants into society and culture. With a small population and vast areas unoccupied, they fuelled their immigration policies with the need for the expansion, with immigrants encouraging them to settle in the rural areas of the land.

The country also provides language training to immigrants and access to the country’s health care and social welfare programs. Admission of highly skilled immigrants from less developed countries is creating an issue for Canada as the country from which the migrants are coming complain that Canada is poaching their talented people for their own benefit and their countries cannot afford the loss. There are two types of entry one is temporary, and the other one is permanent.

The short acts like a tourist visa so you can visit the country as a tourist or visit relatives or take admission as a student. The permanent entry is the path taken by a migrant based on their desire to settle in Canada-based on their qualification, work experience, and knowledge.

Illegal Immigration

Migrating, by violating the immigration laws of the host country, is known as illegal immigration. It has a socio-economic effect on the country. The illicit migrants might be a risk of facing deportation or any other sanction.

But an individual might resort to such a process if he is trying to escape civil war or oppression in the country of origin. Families also work this process so they can provide their children with a better life to succeed.

Pros and Cons of Immigration

Because of the modern globalisation and merging the entire world into a single economic space, people are free to transfer for employment or business to any country. Immigration will become a familiar and massive spread phenomenon.

• One of the principal reasons for immigration is to better the quality of life by engaging favourable employment and earning opportunities, social security, and less crime environment .
• The migrant’s a unique challenge, which makes them more independent as they live alone.
• They save so they can meet the new living standards. It also makes them take up new professional commitments, making them skill full and more experience.
• As they travel through the new land, they study and learn more about the new culture. They get to learn and understand the language and overcome the barrier. 
• A completely additional aspect of life opens with the latest knowledge they gain by understanding the history of the country.
• But there are only a few countries hospitable to migrants, as most of them subject to racial discrimination or intolerance to the new culture.
• Initially, when the individual immigrates to an unfamiliar country, they face a language barrier to understand the underlying social etiquette of the new country like the traffic sign meaning.
• Because of the process of immigration, unknown diseases to disperse into the host country. For example, the devastation of the northern tribal population of North America is highly documented.
• When migrants come to a developed country from a developing world, they will do jobs at lower wages compared to the local non-immigrant. If it is a lot of individuals ready to work with low wages, it causes wage disparity with local people, which might affect job growth.
• The labour laws of the host countries have not caught up with the modern practice of immigration. Even if the people have legally entered the country, it is easy for local people to inform the local police of them as a possible illegal immigrant. Refusing to pay the owed wages, filing false charges, and even physical abuse are some common issues a migrant faces.

Apart from the advantages and disadvantages of the migrants, the immigration process has its own benefits and drawbacks for both the countries, one who is hosting the people and the one which is losing the people. I hope you liked this informative post Essay on immigration.

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The Good and the Bad: Do Immigrants’ Positive and Negative Evaluations of Life After Migration Go Hand in Hand?

• Open access
• Published: 14 October 2022
• Volume 24 , pages 1091–1111, ( 2023 )

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• Nella Geurts   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6252-3638 1 &
• Marcel Lubbers   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6295-6356 2  

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Research on migration and integration has informed us about the systemic inequalities and disadvantages that migrants face in the residence country. Less is known about migrants’ positive experiences, and whether these co-exist with negative experiences. This study’s contribution lies in exploring to what extent positive and negative evaluations go hand in hand and among whom in what way. By coding and analysing open-ended questions of the New Immigrants Survey, we explore this among 955 immigrants from Bulgaria, Poland, Spain and Turkey who have been in the Netherlands for around 5 years. Results illustrate that these migrants most often positively evaluate matters in the economic domain, whereas the domain that is most often negatively evaluated concerns (being apart from) family. Which positive and negative evaluations are mentioned simultaneously differs among migrants, where migrants from Spain more often combine a negative evaluation of the Dutch whether with a positive evaluation of the Dutch being friendly. Migrants with a temporary intention to stay are more likely to combine a positive evaluation of the economic domain with negative experiences in the integration domain. This study hereby illustrates that the current emphasis in migration research on “the bad” overlooks positive matters that migrants experience simultaneously.

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Introduction

Decennia of migration and integration studies have informed us about the key problems that immigrants encounter after migration to a new residence country (Alba & Foner, 2014 ; Diehl et al., 2016 ; Schunck, 2014 ). The socio-economic position of immigrants has been problematized since relatively many immigrants are unemployed, and if employed relatively often in the lower echelons of the labour market, with lower levels of labour market security and lower earnings than the native population (Fleischmann & Dronkers, 2010 ; Gorodzeisky & Semyonov, 2017 ; Kogan, 2004 ). Similarly, the social relations that immigrants develop have been problematized (Hao & Kawano, 2001 ; Martinovic et al., 2009 ). In the situation that immigrants are forced to or choose to live in neighbourhoods with large shares of co-ethnics and mainly engage with co-ethnics, it is thought they lack social resources that are relevant to be included in the residence country. These issues in the socio-economic and social domain are related to socio-cultural integration (Ersanili & Koopmans, 2010 ; Fokkema & De Haas, 2015 ). In this field of research, it is problematized that immigrants’ identification with the residence country may be limited and that certain core democratic or cultural values are not subscribed to by immigrants (Dollmann, 2021 ; Van Doorn et al., 2013 ; Verdier et al., 2012 ; Vollebergh et al., 2017 ). Media and politicians in Western Europe often stress these issues and incompatibilities surrounding migrants and most scientific research studies and reports on the systemic inequalities between immigrants and the native populations. It is however less well known whether immigrants themselves also perceive these matters as the main problems of life after immigration to the residence country. Mainly qualitative research has illustrated migrants’ “messy reality” and diverse experiences of integration and life in the residence country (Eijberts & Ghorashi, 2017 ; Erdal, 2013 ; Geurts et al., 2021 ), but insights in these experiences among larger groups of immigrants and thus the generalizability of these findings are lacking. This study offers these insights by taking an explorative approach in which (combinations of) migrants’ positive and negative evaluations of life after immigration are studied. In doing so, this study provides future directions for hypotheses on how the intersections of both negative and positive evaluations affect migrants’ integration processes in Western Europe.

Firstly, this paper provides evidence for the extent to which immigrants who lived for on average 5 years in the Netherlands perceive certain matters about their life in this residence country to be negative. We complement this perspective of what is “bad” about life in the residence country with the perspective of what is “good”, again from the immigrants’ own point of view. Even though the mirror of explanations of little success is the explanation of more success, most integration research less often explicitly focuses on what goes well. This study uses open-ended questions as part of a large-scale survey to obtain insight in what migrants themselves mention to be positive and negative evaluations of life in the residence country, which adds to our understanding of migrants’ lived experiences in Western Europe. Our first research question is therefore: To what extent and in what domains do recent immigrants have positive and negative experiences of life in the Netherlands?

Besides describing the good and the bad as experienced by immigrants, this paper will secondly address to what extent these positive and negative evaluations of life in the Netherlands co-exist. Immigrants who are positive about what immigration has brought them probably also face issues in the new country they live in. Immigrants who are negative about certain aspects of their life in the new country may be (more likely to be) positive on other aspects (Eijsberts & Ghorashi, 2015). Yet we do not know to what extent such positive and negative evaluations (in certain domains) go hand in hand since earlier research hardly addressed such positive and negative evaluations simultaneously. Our second research question therefore reads: To what extent do recent immigrants simultaneously have positive and negative experiences of life in the Netherlands? This study is, as far as we know, the first to acknowledge this possible interplay and “messy reality” using migrants’ own experiences through the use of large-scale data and in doing so is able to assess to what extent such simultaneous experiences are present across several social groups.

Finally, we study a set of possible individual drivers of such combinations of positive and negative experiences. Previous migration research highlights reasons for immigrants to migrate, from which we can derive potential positive experiences that migration will bring (Castles, 1998 ; Engbersen et al., 2013 ; Kanas & Steinmetz, 2021 ; Massey et al., 1993 ); economic migrants will try to improve their economic position; family migrants can be expected to be optimistic to be (re-)united with family; and immigrants who moved away from a country of which they disapprove of the political or cultural climate, or flee because they need protection, are expected to be more positive about the living situation in the new country. Next to migration motive, we expect variation among immigrants in the extent to which certain aspects of the good and the bad go hand in hand, for example, based on immigrants’ intention to stay (De Haas & Fokkema, 2011 ), educational level (Buzdugan & Halli, 2009 ) and gender (Ala-Mantila & Fleischmann, 2018 ). We acknowledge that this is just a selection of factors that may provide insights into what combinations on positive and negative experiences are most prominent. The research we conduct here is therefore mostly explorative, to see what combinations among whom are (more) likely to be experienced. As such, our final research question reads: To what extent are migration motive, intention to stay, origin country, educational level and gender related to experiencing certain negative and positive experiences of life simultaneously?

Based on answers to open-ended questions of what is perceived as positive and negative about life in the Netherlands among 955 immigrants from Bulgaria, Poland, Spain and Turkey, we thus provide evidence whether and how immigrants combine positive and negative evaluations of life after migration. Like many other immigration countries, the Netherlands has witnessed political and societal debate about the volume of migration and about problems that would concentrate among the immigrant population. Related to the origin countries included here, policy in specific focuses on abuses that labour migrants face in the Netherlands. Perhaps different from some other countries, where the dominant discourse may be that immigrants are needed to fill labour market shortages, the positive side of immigration is less often discussed in the Dutch context, which is illustrated by news articles on immigration often having a negative tone (Van Klingeren et al., 2015 ). The Netherlands is therefore a relevant context to explore and answer the three research questions among recent migrants, which will contribute to our understanding of the formative period after migration. Indeed, the biggest changes in immigrants’ lives in a new country arguably happen in the first years after migration (Diehl et al., 2016 ). In doing so, we moreover contribute to previous migration, integration and participation literature in two ways: we firstly argue for the need to acknowledge migrants’ simultaneous negative and positive evaluations of life after migration and explore to what extent this is the case. Secondly, we study to what extent there are differences in for whom certain negative and positive evaluations go hand in hand by exploring patterns across several key characteristics to contribute to our understanding of the interrelationship between these positive and negative evaluations of life after migration. An overview of these combinations can inform us on what hinders (or moderates) anticipated outcomes of such negative and/or positive evaluations.

Recent Migration and the Relation Between Origin and Residence Country

Migration has become more dynamic and transnational in the last decennia (Engbersen et al., 2013 ). The opportunities for contact with the country of origin, either in terms of contacts with friends and family or keeping updated of what is going on in the country of origin, expanded rapidly (Schunck, 2014 ). Still, the situational differences between origin and residence countries have a major impact on for who it is possible and likely to migrate, and based on what reason.

Traditionally, migration is considered to be a cost–benefit calculation (Borjas, 1994 ; Constant & Massey, 2003 ; Dustmann et al., 2010 ). Immigrants have expectations about improvement of their living situation by moving to a new residence country. For people who left the origin country to work elsewhere, this is most straightforward in economic terms. Contexts that do not offer (the preferred) employment and opportunities for sufficient earnings are push-factors. Migration may also be motived by expectations about better career opportunities elsewhere (Borjas, 1989 ). Migration from contexts with little labour opportunities to areas with little unemployment remains a major migration pattern. With increasing restrictions on labour market migration from immigrants outside the EU, it has been argued that study-migration may offer a new route (Luthra & Platt, 2017 ). However, study immigrants, mostly entering universities, have a rather different socio-economic outlook than the on average more low-skilled labour market entries from a large share of economic immigrants.

More recently, the migration literature has shown that because of the large variety of factors that play a role in migration decisions, an aspirations-capabilities perspective fits reality better (De Haas, 2011 ). From this perspective, it is more evident that migration will result in simultaneously positive and negative evaluations. The focus on immigrants’ agency in this model implies that immigrants may evaluate their experiences in the residence country differently, depending on the reasons that they provided for moving and accounting for immigrants’ relationships to the origin and residence country at the same time. All origin countries addressed in this study had a higher level of unemployment at the time, a lower GDP per capita and lower average earnings than the Netherlands. Moreover, Bulgaria, Poland and Spain are (and were already in 2013) members of the European Union, creating opportunities for free movement between these countries and the Netherlands. This is different for migrants from Turkey who have to apply for a visa, where economic reasons seldomly provided a permission for migration. Migration from Turkey is predominantly family-motivated. In the 1980s and 1990s, when recruitment of workers as arranged in the 1960s and 1970s was no longer needed in the Netherlands, migration was dominated by family-re-unification (Bayrakdar & Guveli, 2020 ). Also today, non-EU migration for reasons of labour has become increasingly difficult in many of the European countries and family-related migration takes up a large share of migration. Migrants who moved to the Netherlands in 2012/2013 from the origin countries we study here—Bulgaria, Poland, Spain and Turkey—were at the time not in a situation of conflict and did not qualify for a refugee status in the Netherlands. They are not likely to belong to the immense group of people worldwide, fleeing from conflict and repression. Next to asylum applications, immigrants may choose to work, study, join a family or partner in a new residence country and not stay in the origin country because they disapprove of the political or cultural situation in the country of origin.

Positive and Negative Evaluations of Domains of Integration

In the literature on integration, different domains are distinguished (Ager & Strang, 2008 ). Often these are summarized into economic, social and cultural domains of integration or participation (sometimes, political integration is defined as a fourth domain) (Entzinger & Biezeveld, 2003 ; Phalet & Swyngedouw, 2003 ; Schunck, 2014 ). In this literature immigrants’ positions in these domains are frequently compared to the position of natives (e.g. Heath et al., 2008 ; Heath & Li, 2017 ). From that comparison, it often follows that immigrants are less well-off economically (e.g. Gorodzeisky & Semyonov, 2017 ; Li & Heath, 2020 ) are socially oriented predominantly to co-ethnics (e.g. Martinovic et al., 2009 ) and less culturally oriented to the residence country than natives (e.g. Ersanili & Koopmans, 2010 ). However, an important question is what a relevant group of comparison is (Tolsma et al., 2012 ). In the period just after migration, it seems more likely that immigrants compare their situation to their life before migration instead of (only) comparing it to the position of the native population in the residence country. Even when immigrants may be in disadvantaged positions according to the standards of the residence country, they still may perceive and evaluate their position in a positive way, for example, because it is an improvement compared to life in the origin country. We, therefore, argue it is key to bring in migrants’ perceptions, as it may paint a different picture than drawn in previous research comparing migrants to natives.

Studies have highlighted the huge diversity of outcomes in integration and participation brought about by a diverse set of factors, including individual-level characteristics of immigrants. Such individual drivers are likely to affect migrants’ (positive and negative) experiences in the residence country (Black et al., 2011 ; Hendriks, 2015 ; Nisic & Melzer, 2016 ). In this article, we explore to what extent these known key individual-level drivers of integration outcomes also affect the extent to which negative and positive evaluations of life after migration go hand in hand. Immigrants may be likely to focus their life, and thus experiences, on a domain that is linked to their migration motive, a driver that is expected to be strongly included in immigrants’ evaluation of their situation in the residence country. Immigrants who (mainly) migrated for work will be more likely to mention both positive and negative features of the work domain. Family migrants are expected to have positive and negative evaluations mostly of the social domain. Political migrants and those who wanted to stay in the Netherlands because they simply wanted to live there for a while are expected to mention positive and negative aspects of the socio-cultural aspects of life in the Netherlands.

Another known key driver of migrants’ integration processes is immigrants’ intention to stay (Chabé-Ferret et al., 2018 ; Geurts and Lubbers, 2017 ), which is often related to linear cost–benefit theories. The assumption is that immigrants who intend to stay make more investments in resources and capital relevant in the residence country (Chabé-Ferret et al., 2018 ). Immigrants whose intention is to stay longer in the residence country may be a select group of immigrants who have more positive experiences in the residence country (Adda, Dustman & Mestres, 2006 ; Wachter & Fleischmann, 2018 ). Immigrants who intend to stay may also be likely to ignore and downplay negative experiences. Migrants who are not willing to stay may be open to express positive experiences but at the same time, their negative evaluations may support their decision to leave as they intended to do. We moreover study gender and educational level differences in combinations people experience in positive and negative evaluations. Gender and level of education have been studied widely as key indicators of integration (e.g. Gorodzeisky & Semyonov, 2017 ; Heath & Li, 2017 ). In cases where immigration follows a more traditional pattern where men move first and women join later, it may hold that women are more focused on the social domain and men on the economic domain. As for education, theories on the integration paradox have shown that higher-educated immigrants experience higher levels of (group) discrimination than lower-educated immigrants and are in general more aware and critical towards the residence country (Tolsma et al., 2012 ; Geurts et al., 2020 ). Therefore, when immigrants are asked to express themselves about what is negative about their life after immigration, higher-educated immigrants may more often mention spontaneously that discrimination is an issue or mention other negative evaluations, with less or no expression of positive evaluations. Where previous research has to a certain extent illustrated the role of such characteristics for experiences of life in the residence country, this study will explore whether these characteristics are related to combining certain positive and negative experiences simultaneously.

We analysed immigrants included in the fourth wave of the New Immigrants Survey (NIS2NL) survey data, conducted in early 2018, as this wave included open-ended questions on positive and negative experiences of life in the Netherlands. NIS2NL is specifically designed to analyse early integration processes after migration (Lubbers et al., 2018 ). This survey includes recent migrants from Bulgaria, Poland, Spain and Turkey who were registered as a new citizen of the Netherlands around 2012/2013. Footnote 1 Statistics Netherlands drew a random sample of immigrants from these countries from the Dutch municipality registers. In September 2013, this sample of migrants older than 18 years old was invited to participate in a written or online survey. Invitations and questionnaires were translated into the migrants’ mother tongue. Migrants were sampled within 18 months after their registration in a Dutch municipality. The first wave was collected in November 2013 and March 2014 (mean response rate of 32.3%), after which the second and third waves followed after about 15 months each (with a mean response rate of 58.7 and 68.2%, respectively). Respondents who took part in wave 3, who agreed to participate in another wave and were still living in the Netherlands according to statistics Netherlands were approached for the fourth wave in January 2018. This resulted in a sample of 996 migrants. The response rates for the fourth wave were 73.2% for migrants for Poland, 80.9% for migrants from Turkey, 83.3% for migrants from Bulgaria and 84.2% for migrants from Spain.

Any study on what immigrants experience as positive or negative in a setting in which they are surveyed has to acknowledge selection and temporality. In this study, immigrants who lived for over 5 years in the Netherlands are asked about their evaluations of life after immigration in the residence country. Those who are surveyed may be a selection of immigrants who are relatively positive about life after immigration because they did not leave the residence country in the first 5 years after immigration (as statistics from the Netherlands have shown that on average 50% of the immigrants return to the origin country or move elsewhere in a 5-year window). Still, these immigrants who are still in the residence country after 5 years can vary in their outlooks and experiences.

The dropout between the four waves of the NIS2NL survey will be selective as it is thus affected by return migration or migration elsewhere. With respect to dropouts between earlier waves, it appears that migrants who had a Dutch partner had a higher Dutch language proficiency, were employed, were highly educated, experienced less group discrimination or had a permanent intention to stay were less likely to dropout. This dropout between earlier waves is therefore selective, where a dropout could be interpreted as an indication of too many negative experiences/too little positive experiences in the residence country. In a way, this results in a sample in the fourth wave that represents the settling migrant population in the Netherlands, as the group that remains in the Netherlands is different from those who does not. Although this dropout is thus selective, we argue these are common selection processes which also apply to results of previous studies on integration processes among longer residing migrants.

Operationalization

Subjective evaluation of life in the netherlands.

This paper studies both the negative and positive experiences of migrants’ life in their residence country. We do so based on two open-ended items which were the final questions of the survey: “What are the positive aspects of your life in the Netherlands?” and “What are the negative aspects of your life in the Netherlands?”. Footnote 2 Respondents were able to share their answers in their own language of preference, answers were translated to Dutch.

For both items, we applied thematic open coding to cluster answer categories into a range of domains in life (Allahyari et al., 2017 ; Popping, 2015 ). Coding has been conducted by two researchers, coding each case by hand to contribute to the reliability of the coding. Most respondents provided one or two words to formulate their answer (e.g. on what is negative: “taxes”; “difficult language”; and “rain”). Subjects that tap into an overarching theme were later merged, e.g. work, income, costs of living and taxes were merged into the economic domain. Some domains were mentioned both on the positive and the negative side of life (such as issues surrounding family, the economic situation and the evaluation of Dutch people) whereas others did not (including climate and language matters). Table 1 offers an overview of the domains distinguished and the number of respondents in each domain. Appendix A1 and A2 present a more detailed overview of the distinguished domains, key words and which sub-domains are included in each respective category. If multiple answers (in different domains) were given, these answers were each categorized in the respective cluster, meaning that one respondent can be part of multiple domains distinguished. For example, if a respondent responded to the second open-ended item that one experiences Dutch people to be intolerant and that one’s labour market position does not match one’s expectations, this respondent is coded as having a negative experience in both the ‘Dutch people’ and the ‘economic’ domain.

Independent Variables of Interest

To understand to what extent there is variance among migrants with respect to whether certain positive and negative experiences go together, we include several characteristics that are used as predictors of interest. First, migrants’ highest obtained educational level attained in either one’s country of origin (measured on a country-specific scale), the Netherlands, or another country is included. All education items were standardized into the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) scale of 2011 (UNESCO, 2012), which ranges from (0) pre-primary education to (8) doctoral or equivalent. We included this linearly. We further included migrants’ gender being either (0) man or (1) woman. Next, we include migration motive (measured at wave 1), divided in line with previous research (Van Tubergen & Van de Werfhorst, 2007 ) into (1) economic, (2) family, (3) in education or (4) other or no specific reason. Finally, we included migrants’ intention to stay categorized into (1) temporary, (2) circular, (3) permanent and (4) do not know and the origin country.

Overall, missing values on these variables were limited (4.1% in total) and we therefore chose to listwise delete these respondents, resulting in a final sample of 955. Descriptive statistics of the independent variables included in this study are presented in Table 2 . To provide further insight in the sample, we presented additional descriptive statistics per origin group in Appendix A3.

Analysis and Results

Analytical strategy.

To inform our research questions, our analyses include three steps. The first two provide descriptive evidence, where the last step uses regression analyses to estimate relationships. In the first step, we show the shares of respondents that mention positive and negative experiences in the distinguished domains. To improve readability and ensure enough power in the multivariate analyses later on, only domains are presented that include more than 10% of the sample. Next, we are interested in the extent to which these negative and positive experiences in various domains go hand in hand. We therefore present the share of respondents that mentioned both a negative and a positive aspect of life in the Netherlands. Again, only those domains that include more than 10% of the sample are presented. Finally, in order to explore whether there are differences among migrants to what extent positive and negative experiences in the Netherlands are combined, we use logistic regression analyses where the outcome of interest are different combinations of positive and negative experiences in two domains. These multivariate logistic regression analyses allow for testing which individual factors relate to outcomes that are dichotomous (Sieben & Linssen, 2009 ), in this case combining certain negative and positive evaluations (= 1) or not (= 0). Table 4 presents the analyses on various combinations of domains that include more than 10% of the sample who expresses a specific combination of domains, which are the largest combinations of negative and positive domains present. Tables A4 and A5 in the appendix present similar analyses for different combinations of positive and negative evaluations as the outcome, presenting the analyses on combinations including less than 10 per cent of the sample, but more than 7.5%. Any effect that has a p value lower than 0.05 is considered statistically significant, the amount of stars illustrate the strength of significance. The various models presenting the results of these different outcomes are labelled as M1 to M19. In the Appendix, Tables A6 and A7 present the explained variance and the odds ratios for each effect in the respective models.

The Frequency of Positive and Negative Experiences

Figure  1 illustrates that more than 53% of the recent migrants in the Netherlands consider aspects in the economic domain as something positive. Almost 40% of the respondents mention experiences around having a better life in the Netherlands positively. The third most frequently mentioned domain concerns the Netherlands being well-organized, as mentioned by 30.1%. Domains that were evaluated positively as well, but mentioned less often are: Dutch people being friendly (25%), having opportunities in the Netherlands (21.8%), having family around (16.1%) and other reasons such as the infrastructure (16.4%).

Share of total number of respondents that mention positive (green bars) and/or negative experiences (orange bars) in certain domains ( N  = 955)

With respect to domains that are most frequently mentioned when sharing negative aspects of life in the Netherlands, missing family is mentioned most often (34.1%). Next, negative evaluations of the climate in the Netherlands are mentioned by 26.2% of the sample. Negative experiences in the economic domain are mentioned by 22% of the sample. Other domains that came to the fore, yet mentioned less often as the three domains discussed are: experiencing too much distance to the home country (19.3%), having issues with (learning the) language (14.5%), struggling with integration into the Dutch society (13%), experiencing Dutch people to be direct and rude (12.2%) and feeling lonely in the Netherlands (10.1%).

We moreover explored to what extent these patterns presented above differ across key individual drivers. For example, Fig.  2 presents the most frequently positive and negative domains mentioned for both men and women. Among various domains, there seem little differences between men and women in the extent to which experiences in certain domains are mentioned. Significant exceptions are the domain of family mentioned positively (among men: 10.9%, among women: 20.4%). Moreover, almost 34% of men mentioned the organized domain whereas this is the case for less than 28% of women. With respect to negative evaluations, there is only a significant difference between men and women in the frequency of mentioning matters in the family domain (among men: 27.7%, among women: 37.8%). In additional descriptive statistics, Figures A1 and A2 illustrate differences across migration motives and origin groups in the frequency of mentioning these positive and negative evaluations.

Share of men and women that mention positive (green bars) and/or negative experiences (orange bars) in certain domains ( N  = 955)

Which Positive and Negative Experiences Go Hand in Hand?

Next, we are interested in exploring to what extent negative and positive experiences of life in the Netherlands can be experienced simultaneously. In Table 3 , the share of respondents is presented based on mentioning a negative experience in a certain domain (ranging from the economic domain to experiencing distance to the home country) who also mentioned a positive experience in another domain. The positive domains mentioned are in line with the ones presented in Fig.  1 .

In general, Table 3 illustrates that negative and positive experiences go hand in hand among quite a share of the respondents. Results for example illustrate that among those who mentioned missing family as a negative aspect of life in the Netherlands, in most of the domains on the positive side, over 34% has mentioned that domain too. For example, 34.4% of those who considered missing family a negative aspect of life in the Netherlands mentioned the opportunities as something positive. The general pattern that arises thus suggests that positive and negative aspects of life in the Netherlands are present at the same time. Seemingly, some negatively evaluated domains are more likely to be combined with positive evaluations than others. It shows that among migrants who negatively evaluated the family and climate domain, around 30 to 40% also share positive evaluations in various domains. This contrasts the patterns among migrants who negatively evaluated domains of integration, loneliness and Dutch people as the share of those who also share positive evaluations only ranges from 10 to 20%.

Differences across domains that represent positive aspects of life in the Netherlands are seemingly small. Put differently, results do not show that mentioning the language domain negatively is more likely to go together with mentioning positive domain A versus positive domain B. Instead, we find that among those who consider language a negative aspect of life, the likelihood of mentioning a positive aspect is similar across all domains (ranging from 17.2% for the better life domain to 22.1% for the “other” domain). Whilst several negative and positive evaluations can thus be combined, results do not point towards certain domains being more likely to be mentioned at the same time.

Which Migrants are More Likely to Combine Certain Positive and Negative Experiences?

Table 4 presents the results of logistic regression analyses on the likelihood of mentioning both a negative and positive aspect of life in the Netherlands in certain domains. Table 4 presents the results of the largest combinations of categories (at least 10% of the sample). Tables A4 and A5 in the appendix present results of outcomes on combinations include less than 10, but more than 7.5% of the sample.

Table 4 shows that educational level is hardly associated with being more or less likely to mention a certain combination of positive and negative evaluations of life in the Netherlands. One exception is that higher-educated migrants are more likely to mention positive aspects in the organized domain and negative aspects with respect to family in the Netherlands (versus not being part of this combination). In addition, Table A4 suggests that higher-educated are more likely to combine negative experiences in the economic domain with positive experiences in for example the better life and Dutch people domains compared to not combining these experiences.

With respect to gender, we find no differences between men and women in the likelihood of combining certain positive and negative aspects of life in the Netherlands. In the appendix, results show that women are more likely than men to combine both positive and negative aspects in the domain of family as well as more likely to mention positive experiences with respect to opportunities yet negative experiences in the family domain, compared to not having mentioned both experiences.

Respondents’ migration motive mainly illustrates differences between those with an economic migration motive and those with a family migration motive. Compared to migrants with an economic motive, those with a family migration motive are less likely to mention positive and negative aspects in the economic domain versus not mentioning both, as well as being less likely to experience positive aspects in the organized domain and negative aspects in the climate domain (compared to not combining both). Results in the appendix moreover show that migrants with a family motive, versus an economic motive, are less likely to mention positive aspects of Dutch people and negative aspects in the economic domain as well as less likely to mention positive aspects in the organized domain and negative aspects in the economic domain. Seemingly, migrants with an economic motive are thus more likely to experience negative aspects in the economic domain and at the same time experience positive aspects in other domains. The appendix moreover shows that compared to migrants with an economic motive, those with an education motive are more likely to mention positive aspects in the economic domain and simultaneously mention negative aspects in the integration and Dutch people domain (compared to not mentioning both of these domains). This finding again underlines that those with an economic migration motive are more likely to experience negative aspects in the economic domain and combine it with positive experiences in other domains.

Looking at migrants’ intention to stay, results show that migrants with a temporary intention to stay, compared to having a permanent intention to stay, are more likely to indicate positive experiences in the economic domain combined with negative experiences in the climate domain as well as the domain of experiencing distance to the home country (versus not combining these experiences). In the appendix, findings underline that those with a temporary intention to stay are more likely than those with a permanent intention to stay to mention positive aspects in the economic domain and negative aspects in the integration domain (compared to not mentioning both evaluations). Yet, those with a temporary intention to stay are less likely to combine negative aspects in the economic domain with negative experiences in the language domain (compared to not combining these domains). Finally, those with a circular intention to stay are less likely than those with a permanent intention to combine a positive experience in the better life domain with a negative aspect in the economic domain (versus not combining them).

Finally, we find various significant differences across origin groups. In Table 4 , results show that compared to migrants from Poland, migrants from Turkey, Bulgaria and Spain are more likely to experience positive experiences in the better life domain and negative experiences in the climate domain as well as mention positive aspects in the organized domain and negative experiences in the climate domain. Moreover, migrants from Poland are less likely to combine positive experiences in the economic domain with negative experiences in the distance to the home country domain compared to migrants from Turkey, Bulgaria and Spain. Seemingly, the negative experiences in the domain of the weather in the Netherlands play a major role among especially migrants from Spain as when changing the reference category to Spain, all other origin groups are significantly less likely to be included in a combination where the climate is evaluated negatively.

Conclusion and Discussion

Decennia of scientific research on migration and integration have given insights in migrants’ diverse issues associated with life after migration and the disadvantages migrants face compared to native populations. These insights are key for our current understanding of how immigrants’ fare in residence countries. Moving beyond objective indicators and comparisons, this study contributes to this understanding by putting migrants’ perspective first (De Haas, 2011 ). This helps us to get a better understanding in what may counterbalance migrants’ negative outcomes after immigration, what the reference for comparison is and how positive outcomes may still go together with critical assessment of what does not go right. Next to “the bad” such as experienced inequalities, disadvantages and discrimination, this study thus questioned to what extent “the good” can be experienced by migrants at the same time. In doing so, we stressed migrants’ lived experiences of the messy reality including both negative and positive evaluations of domains in life in the residence country, which provides a more comprehensive picture of migrants’ daily life than when emphasizing “the bad” only, which has been stressed in qualitative research earlier (Eijsberts & Ghorashi, 2017; Erdal, 2013 ). Based on open answers in a survey among 955 immigrants, this study has offered three insights with respect to this question: which positive and negative evaluations are shared by migrants themselves, to what extent positive and negative evaluations in certain domains are mentioned simultaneously and for whom it is more likely to mention certain negative and positive evaluations simultaneously. In this final step, we analysed to what extent these patterns vary across migrants’ migration motive, intention to stay, origin country, gender and educational level which are seen as key indicators of various domains of participation (e.g. Ala-Mantila & Fleischmann, 2018 ; Buzdugan & Halli, 2009 ; De Haas & Fokkema, 2011 ; Fokkema & De Haas, 2015 ; Kanas & Steinmetz, 2021 ; Wachter & Fleischmann, 2018 ).

First, our results illustrate that when asked about life in the Netherlands, a majority of migrants share negative and positive evaluations in a range of domains, from matters related to one’s economic position and family to matters of integration and the climate in the residence country. The range of negative evaluations that is shared tap into the main domains of integration that are often studied using objective indicators, such as migrants’ economic position and opportunities, (the lack of) social relationships and cultural integration such as language acquisition (Ager & Strang, 2008 ). Perhaps notably missing in both the positive and negative evaluations mentioned is political participation, which may be explained by the recent migration status which limit opportunities for such participation.

Second, we found that a large share of migrants reports both negative and positive evaluations of life in the Netherlands. Interestingly enough, results did not suggest that specific domains that were negatively evaluated were more easily or more likely combined with specific domains that were positively evaluated. In general, evaluating a certain domain as negative is combined with a positive evaluation of a number of domains, all to around the same extent. Yet, results did suggest that those who shared negative evaluations in the domain of family and climate combine these relatively often with positive evaluations (of any domains). This differs from those who negatively evaluated domains of integration, loneliness and Dutch people, of whom the share of migrants mentioning any positively evaluated matter was substantively lower. Put differently, certain negative experiences (such as issues related to integration and the native population) are more difficult to go together with positive experiences in the residence country than others.

Finally, the extent to which positive and negative evaluations are combined differs among migrants. Especially migration motive, intention to stay and origin country play a part in which domains positive and negative evaluations are experienced at the same time. With respect to migrants’ motive, we for example find that migrants with a study motive are more likely to combine a positive evaluation of the economic domain with a negative evaluation of integration and Dutch people than migrants with an economic migration motive. Compared to those with a permanent intention to stay, migrants with a temporary intention to stay are more likely to evaluate the economic domain more positively and combine it with a negative evaluation of the climate, the distance to the home country and the integration process. We also found various differences across origin groups. These are partly related to the dominant migration motives or demographics that characterize immigrants from specific origins, but are also clearly linked to specific origin country characteristics: the climate, how life is organized, the labour market and the socio-political situation. For example, migrants from Spain were more likely to combine negative evaluations of the climate with positive evaluations of other domains compared to other origin groups. Seemingly such individual drivers, which also cover origin country to residence country relations and differences, are important for which and to what extent negative and positive evaluations are experienced at the same time. These findings build on previous research illustrating that such individual-level explanations matter for experiences of life in the residence country in general (e.g. Diehl et al., 2016 ; Kanas & Steinmetz, 2021 ; Wachter & Fleischmann, 2018 ), to which our study adds that these drivers can affect how various experiences are combined simultaneously as well.

The observation that migrants have various positive and negative evaluations of life in the residence country at the same time benefits from further exploration in future research. Respondents were in general rather brief in the open answers. This might have been due to the fact that these open-ended questions were the final questions of a longer standardized questionnaire. A survey targeting a large group of immigrants developed to collect answers to open-ended questions and experimenting with stimulation to fill out the questions may be an interesting tool to get better insights in the phenomena, providing respondents with the opportunity to express their initial thoughts in a first question and to stimulate them to think further on the topic in follow-up questions. The more quantitative approach taken in this study builds on previous qualitative research (Eijberts & Ghorashi, 2017 ) and offers the opportunity to make generalizations of these experiences and analyse among whom certain experiences are more likely, based on text analyses. The theme extraction performed can be further developed by adding automated cluster techniques, which is in particular interesting to generate combinations of positive and negative answers, when much and different sources of text need to be analysed (Allahyari et al., 2017 ; Jackson & Trochim, 2002 ). In addition, answering these research questions benefits from examination across other migrant groups who are for example longer-established in the residence country are part of the second generation or who have obtained refugee status. Supposedly, the type, amount and combinations of negative and positive matters experienced will change over time and these are likely to differ between those who were born in the residence country and those who were not.

Another interesting avenue for future research would be to study the consequences of experiencing certain negative and positive matters in the residence country simultaneously, as it may inform the understanding of migrants’ behaviour and choices that are difficult to fully grasp by studying “the bad” alone. For example, previous research has posed questions on why certain migrants stay put with a job when it does not match their educational qualifications or why some migrants do not report discrimination. By acknowledging the positive matters that migrants experience at the same time, such questions may be (better) understood. Deciding to stay in spite of experiencing discrimination or being overeducated for a job can for example be explained by migrants experiencing a general improvement in circumstances compared to life in the origin country. As such, this study yields and poses new hypotheses on the importance of “the good” and “the bad” and how this relates to various outcomes of migrants’ integration and participation in the residence country. Future studies could explore these hypotheses on several behavioural outcomes.

Altogether, this study has illustrated that besides negative experiences, migrants mention a range of positively evaluated matters of life in the residence country simultaneously. This informs previous migration research studying mainly the disadvantages and issues migrants face after immigration. Such studies would profit from the inclusion of migrants’ lived reality that consists of various negative and positive experiences at the same time. Although migrants’ negative experiences such as facing discrimination or experiencing employment issues should be studied and understood, this study illustrates that such an emphasis on only “the bad” veils various positive experiences that can be experienced at the same time. Acknowledging “the good” in addition to “the bad” therefore draws a more comprehensive picture of migrants’ experiences and relatedly may inform understanding migrants’ behaviour and choices to act and react in a certain way. This study sheds light on these matters by illustrating that positive and negative evaluations of life in the residence country often go hand in hand. For future quantitative research, these positive experiences may be the relevant moderators to understand various outcomes for immigrants, in particular in these dynamic years right after migration. Addressing the positive and negative conjointly thus increases our understanding of migrants’ experiences, choices and behaviour.

At the time of data collection, ethical approval was not necessary for such a non-interventional study.

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Geurts, N., Lubbers, M. The Good and the Bad: Do Immigrants’ Positive and Negative Evaluations of Life After Migration Go Hand in Hand?. Int. Migration & Integration 24 , 1091–1111 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-022-00993-8

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Economic advantages and disadvantages of immigration into the U.S. Research Paper

Works cited.

Immigrants to the United States have historically elicited passionate debates on whether they are of economic benefit or an economic burden to the country. Those who hold the view that immigrants are of economic benefit have advanced views including that with the coming of immigrants into the country there is availability of cheap labor force who, besides contributing to the numbers of available labor, are also contributing to making businesses by locals benefit since they buy goods.

According to this thinking too, immigrants, besides contributing to consumer base for goods and services are also important for setting up new business ventures which open-up employment opportunities for the locals. For those of the opposite view, the immigrants are an economic burden since they consume the government resources allocated for the people as well as contribute to making low-pay packages since they are ready to accept low-pays.

In the last few decades, immigrants to the United States have surged in numbers. By the year 2005, there were more than 38 million immigrants in the country. This represented 13% in the total population, in the country, as being foreign-born (Burman 56). For some economists, this trend has been a cause of alarm.

For others, the trend is an economic blessing to the country. According to one view on this debate, immigrants are today an important impediment to the government’s objectives of its goals. As this view holds, since the majority of the immigrants are illegal the fact is that majority of them are not paying taxes.

As Geigenberger (171) identifies, with this quality, the government lags behind in many of its objectives. This is because the collection of the taxes thus revenue does not reflect the anticipated collections. According to Geigenberger (171), because of this inability to get taxes from the majority of the immigrants, the government is always strained in the achievement of objectives.

This is because of many reasons. On the first ground, though these people are not paying taxes; they are consuming the social resources. They are for example, using hospitals and thus the medicines which are covered by the government using the tax collections. Besides the hospitals, such people are also using other resources such as electricity, water and such which are subsidized by the government using the resources from the taxes.

The overall impacts of these are two fold. First is that the government is forced to increase taxes for the category who pay the taxes. Over the last ten years, the government has indeed increased taxes for almost all classes (Geigenberger 171). This is attributed to the increasing population fueled by the increasing migration into the country.

As Geigenberger (172) states, this is economically clear. This is because the government generally has set standards to achieve for the population. These objectives are achieved through funding to programs. The funding is usually informed by the figures which exist of the population who are the consumers.

Considering that the immigrants are an addition to the already known population, fact is that this category contributes to making the government unable to meet the objectives with the funding targets which had been previously done. The government is thus forced to increase funding to each of the projects because it is only through this way that the population which now includes the immigrants can have access to the resources.

This case is analyzed through state data. In the academic year 2003-3004 for example, the state of Minnesota spent around 118.14 million dollars on the education of the children of undocumented immigrants. In this academic year, New Mexico spent 67 million dollars for the same category (Geigenberger 174). Overall, all this presents an increase on the education budgets for the state governments. According to these estimates, the immigrants (illegal) are taking up more than 1.3 billion dollars of healthcare spending by the country.

The above view, though clear, does not present convincing information. According to estimates, on average, an immigrant contributes an increase of 0.1 percent to the average income of a U.S natural citizen (Ottaviano & Peri 2). This increase in average income to the locals is identified to be coming from either the labor that the immigrants provide or their participation in buying of goods and services.

According to this line of thinking, the immigrants are setting up new business and thus creating employment opportunities. As estimates puts it, the current trend in immigration contributes averagely to a 10 percent increase in the overall employment level in the country, both from the new businesses and from the capital provided by the immigrants when they buy (Ottaviano & Peri 27).

Historically, the idea has been that immigrants contribute to unemployment because they create scramble for jobs. This view has been variously discounted. According to Geigenberger (10), the immigrants into the country are not in any case vying for the same jobs with the locals.

This as Geigenberger (10) identifies is because in most cases, the educational achievement of the immigrants is usually lower compared to the locals. The meaning of this is that as the locals take up the jobs at the higher levels, the immigrants ensure e that there is no vacuum at the lower level jobs as they take them up as befitting their educational qualification. The fitting a line to a scatter plot presentation below which was done by Ottaviano & Peri, highlights the lower jobs taken up by immigrants compared to the locals.

Source: Economist’s view (15).

According to Geigenberger (10), indeed many of the low-level jobs such as restaurant services, care giving, construction (low level) and farm work would excessively be deficient of workers if the immigrants were blocked from coming into the country. According to Geigenberger (10), these jobs are 87 percent taken by the immigrants not only because of their lower qualifications but also because the locals are not ready to take them up.

As Geigenberger (10) summarizes, the meaning of this is that the important sectors of the economy including agriculture, construction, hospitality and commerce greatly needs the immigrants as a labor. The table below highlights the central place of immigrants to the economy.

Distribution among important sectors.

In the discussion of the disadvantages of immigrants, issues has been that because majority of them are undocumented (illegal) thus making them only a liability to the economy. Some have discounted this too. According to Burman (124), by 2006, the country was estimated to have around 8.3 in the illegal immigrants. It is estimated that this portion of the population in the country was contributing or taking up 5.4 percent of the needed labor force in the country.

As Burman (124) identifies, this category of the undocumented immigrants are not a disadvantage in relation to taxes as it is also believed. Instead, as Burman (137) identifies data continues to show that close to 80 percent of the immigrants who are undocumented still pay their state, local and federal taxes. As the data shows each year, the category of the undocumented immigrants contribute more than 70 billion dollars to the social security fund.

Generally, the contribution of the immigrants to the taxes usually remains under the unaccounted for payments. Because these workers do not want their identity to be identified, they pay their taxes but hold their identity. By the year 2005, more than 8.8 reports on the tax submissions by workers to the Social Security Trust was by workers whose identified had been withheld. These taxes amounted to 57.8 in billion dollars (Burman 137).

According to matching which ensued, these funds were majority coming from illegal immigrants. As data shows, the trend has been the same for a long period. In the year 2003, the figure contributed by this category was 75 billion dollars. At this time, there was an estimated 255 million illegal immigrants presenting their taxes but remaining obscure in their identity (Burman 147).

In the recent times, the U.S has responded to the migration issue through actions aimed at shutting the border points to limit migration. Construction of fences has been a commonality in the recent actions by governments. The American borders have been the target for many years. As these borders and border security continue to shut the immigrants, many things are bound to happen.

Among them is that the country is bound to lose he cheap labor which has been effective for the industrial booms throughout the history. America, from the days of slaves to the abolition of slavery and now immigration, has proved to depend more on such a category of low salaries person to make possible economic gains especially during hard times when payment of good salaries is impossibility.

This could cause collapse of some sectors such as agriculture which heavily depend on these people. Besides, with such measure so f shutting the borders, the country is bound to lose of the social benefits that these people bring especially the family value system they instill on the American culture.

Burman, Stephen. The state of the American Empire: How the U.S. A Shapes the World . Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007. Web.

Geigenberger, Julia. The Lasting Value of Legal Immigration for the United States of America . München: GRIN Verlag, 2008. Web.

Ottaviano, Gianmarco, Peri, Giavanni. Rethinking the gains from Immigration: theory and evidence from the U.S. Washington, DC: National Bureau of economic research, 2005. Web.

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"Economic advantages and disadvantages of immigration into the U.S." IvyPanda , 5 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/economic-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-immigration-into-the-u-s/.

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IvyPanda . 2024. "Economic advantages and disadvantages of immigration into the U.S." March 5, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/economic-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-immigration-into-the-u-s/.

1. IvyPanda . "Economic advantages and disadvantages of immigration into the U.S." March 5, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/economic-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-immigration-into-the-u-s/.

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9 Advantages and Disadvantages of Immigration

Migration, whether it be within or across borders, comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. 

It is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of immigration to fully understand its impact on societies.

This article will explore the benefits of immigration as well as the challenges and drawbacks it presents.

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Advantages of Immigration

• Economic Benefits : Immigration provides numerous economic advantages to the receiving country. Immigrant workers often fill job vacancies in sectors where there is a shortage of local labor, contributing to the productive capacity of the economy. They bring diverse skills and expertise that help drive innovation and enhance productivity. This can lead to increased GDP growth and a stronger local economy.
• Lower-skilled Labor : Immigrants who work in lower-skilled jobs may be willing to work for lower wages, which can benefit certain industries and make goods and services more affordable for consumers. This can create cost advantages for businesses and stimulate economic growth.
• Fill Job Vacancies : In countries experiencing demographic challenges, such as under-population or an aging workforce, immigrants can help fill job vacancies and address labor shortages. This ensures the continuity of essential services and maintains the functioning of key industries.
• Cultural Diversity : Immigration allows for the enrichment of societies through cultural diversity. Immigrants bring their customs, traditions, and perspectives, fostering a multicultural environment that promotes tolerance, understanding, and the exchange of ideas. This can contribute to a stronger global economy by promoting international cooperation and collaboration.
• Remittances : Immigrants often send money back to their home countries, known as remittances. These financial transfers can significantly contribute to the economic development of their countries of origin. For example, the GDP of Guatemala heavily relies on remittances provided by immigrants.

Disadvantages of Immigration

• Pressure on Public Services : A significant influx of immigrants can put extra pressure on public services such as healthcare, education, and social care. Local governments may face challenges in meeting the increased demand, potentially leading to strained resources and longer waiting times for services.
• Impact on Wages : In some cases, immigrants willing to work for lower wages can create downward pressure on wages in certain industries. This can lead to concerns among native workers who may face increased competition for employment opportunities.
• Social Problems : Rapid increases in population due to immigration can sometimes lead to social problems. Language barriers, cultural clashes, and difficulties in assimilation can create social tensions and strains within communities. However, it is important to note that these issues are not inherent to immigration and can be mitigated through effective integration policies.
• Brain Drain : Developing countries may experience a loss of skilled workers, known as brain drain, as individuals seek better opportunities abroad. This can impede the development of the countries of origin, as valuable skills and expertise are lost.

Conclusion of Pros and Cons of Immigration

In conclusion, immigration has both advantages and disadvantages that must be considered. It provides economic benefits, fills labor gaps, promotes cultural diversity, and supports the global economy through remittances.

However, it can also create pressure on public services, impact wages, and give rise to social challenges. 

By implementing appropriate policies and strategies, societies can maximize the benefits of immigration while addressing its potential drawback, similar to the advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity .

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Immigration Argumentative Essay

July 24, 2017

The first step in writing an immigration argumentative essay is defining the term. For it we have got the next definition: an immigration argumentative essay is an argumentative essay on the immigration which shows both sides of the same coin of the issue. As it was said that we are dealing with an argumentative as a piece of writing, we have two directions of research. 

The first direction is finding the necessary information about the rules of writing an argumentative essay.

The second one is just to study an issue of immigration in its genesis in order to be ready to discuss and debate upon the topic. It means that it is critical to understand positive and negative sides of immigration phenomenon through different sources like:

• journal and magazine articles,
• expert opinions,
• encyclopedias,
• web pages or personal experiences. 

Talking about the first direction we should find out the type of structure, appropriate style and useful phrases of writing argumentative essays. To begin with, an argumentative essay is a piece of formal writing. There are several kinds of argumentative essays such as: outlining the advantages and disadvantages of a certain issue, providing solutions to problems, giving your personal opinion on the subject and discursive argumentative essays.

Any argumentative essay consists of three main parts: introduction, main body, and conclusion.

It has got the same structure which can be shown as a paragraph plan: Para 1 (stating the topic, opinion or the problem) – Introduction, Para 2 (giving advantages, or arguments for, or one point of view, or the first suggestion and reason) and Para 3 (giving disadvantages, or arguments against, or another point of view, or the second suggestion and reason) – Main Body, Para 3 (final paragraph – giving a consideration or your opinion, summarizing opinions or giving best suggestions and reasons) – Conclusion. It is important to bear in mind that in the argumentative essay each new paragraph should include each new point.

There are some useful tips for argumentative essays. For instance, short forms and colloquial English should not be used. Paragraphs have to be well developed. Strong personal expressions (In my view, I am sure…) and others strong feelings (everybody hates, all people admire…) should be avoided. It is obligatorily to use linking words (on the other hand, even though…) and sequencing (first, then, finally, to conclude…) in argumentative essays.

It will be also useful to use quotations or paraphrasing of them. Finally, one who is writing an argumentative essay should remember that the use of clichéd introduction will not be able to make your essay perfect. Instead of it will be better to use original one. There are also some special techniques for writing the first and the last paragraphs (introduction and conclusion).

The introduction serves to catch the readers’ attention. Thus, in the introduction the writer states an opinion, makes reference to an extraordinary scene of situation, and addresses the reader directly starting with rhetorical questions. The conclusion summarizes the essay giving a great opportunity to the reader to consider something. It will be suitable to use a wise quotation in the end of an argumentative essay. 

As the issue of this type of essay touches different aspects of human life as psychological, religious, scientific, artistic, economic, educational, social, political, moral, historical, geographical, medical, personal, etc., the most proper kind of argumentative essay is probably the discursive essay.

In the introduction we should make a general statement about the topic explaining the past and the current situation; in the main body – to write different points of view in separate paragraphs; in the conclusion – to finish the essay by giving the writer’s own opinion on the subject.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Immigration Problem

Returning to the main subject, we are going to make a brief inspection upon it. As it was previously stated, there are pros and cons of the immigration issue. Let us look through positive positions. The modern world of globalization opens new horizons to productive and successful immigration making the ways of immigrating easier.

As a result, the humanity gets an economic growth. Immigrants also can replace skilled workers and scientists in the circumstances of brain drain in some countries.

In addition to this, services to an ageing population can be maintained when there are insufficient young people in the country.

The pension gap can be filled by the contributions of young workers who pay taxes.

Immigrants also can bring new ideas, energy, innovations, and modernization enriching the cultural diversity through taking traditions from their home countries. Apart from the advantages for the host country for the immigration we need to talk also about positive opportunities for immigrants. Many people can fill their job vacancies and skills gaps, taking jobs abroad. Immigration will help refugees to get new safe place to live.

While war is not the thing of the past yet, the quantity of refugees will certainly increase. For example, 42.4 million immigrants both legal and illegal live in the United States.

Some of them are refugees, some of them have job or training opportunities in the country.

What negative impact can immigration have?

In the first place, there is a great problem of illegal. Illegal immigrants can be dangerous as they are undocumented that leads to breaking the law and increases crime. Illegal immigrants can be criminals or suffer from local criminals without punishment. Here we should admit the danger of drug trafficking. Another problem is that in the situation of local unemployment and competition even legal residents are unwelcome because they are happy to work for minimum wage.

Last but not least is the social problem of children or old people left behind as a result of immigration of some family members.

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Ultimate Guide to IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essays

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Updated On Apr 12, 2024

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We have all made a list of pros and cons when faced with a difficult decision. An advantages disadvantages essay in IELTS Writing is kind of like an organized pros and cons list.

In this article, we will go over the structure of Task 2 advantages and disadvantages, how to write an advantages and disadvantages essay and go over a few IELTS sample essays of this type.

Understanding the Question and Structure of the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay 

The IELTS advantages disadvantages essay is a question type you will come across in IELTS Writing Task 2 .

You will be asked to write about the benefits and drawbacks of the topic given. It can be worded in different ways. Let’s see some examples.

• At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones in our daily lives.
• Some companies and organizations require their employees to wear uniforms. What are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a uniform?
• A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not managed correctly. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world. Do you think that the benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks?
• What are the pros and cons for children watching television? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant example from your knowledge or experience.
• Globalization has both advantages and disadvantages. Discuss both and give your opinion.

Discussing the Question of Advantages and Disadvantages Essay IELTS

In some questions of Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages essay, you will be asked to share your opinion. However, in most cases, discussing the pros and cons/benefits and drawbacks/advantages and disadvantages is enough.

The first part of the question for advantage and disadvantage essays in IELTS Writing Task 2 will always be a statement. In the second part, you will get to know whether you have to discuss only the benefits and drawbacks or add your opinion along with it. So, no need to worry!

As you can see in the image above, the first question asks you to share your opinion, whereas in the second, you will have to discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

Structure of the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay

The IELTS Essay writing task is quite challenging as it requires you to write an essay on an unseen topic from any walk of life – it can range from social issues to environmental discourse. To make it easy, you can practice  advantage and disadvantage essay topics  based on the following structure breakdown.

• Paraphrase the question statement.
•  State what the following paragraphs will discuss.
• Mention your viewpoint (if asked in the question)
• Discuss the advantages.
• Explain the benefits with examples in 2-3 sentences.
• Discuss the disadvantages.
• Explain the drawbacks with examples in 2-3 sentences.
• Summarize the benefits and drawbacks discussed in the essay.

Remember that there is no right or wrong structure for  advantages and disadvantages writing task 2 . However, if you use this, it will enable you to plan your essay in no time during the exam.

Join us in our IELTS webinars to learn tricks to handle IELTS Writing Task 2 essays!  Explore Now!

How to Plan Your Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages Essay?

The planning for writing any essay type in IELTS Writing Task 2 requires around 5 minutes.

The process covers essential aspects such as analysis of the question, organization of the points to be included, identifying relevant vocabulary, and understanding the  marking criteria  to obtain a good  band score .

The following points will provide a concise guide on how to plan your answer for the advantages and disadvantages of essays in IELTS academic writing task 2 and save some time to revise your response.

• To answer the advantages disadvantages essay questions in IELTS Writing Task 2, first you have to identify the keywords and instructions in the question to discuss the positives and negatives of the statement.
• Plan your structure, including your main arguments, advantages, and disadvantages, to present your answer in a well-structured manner.
• Take at least 10 minutes to analyze and understand the given statement and evaluate its pros and cons.
• Organize your thoughts and provide a clear and concise response.
• Using appropriate writing task 2 vocabulary and phrases (lexical resource) is important. But avoid stuffing too many words into irrelevant places.
• Ensure that your response remains relevant to the given topic.
• Understand the IELTS writing band descriptors like Task Response, Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy to obtain a  high band score .

How to Write an Advantages Disadvantages Essay for IELTS Writing Task 2?

Once you have planned your advantage and disadvantage essay for Writing Task 2, it is time to write down your answer.

Writing The Essay Introduction

The first thing that you have to do is to write an introduction for an advantages disadvantages essay.

• Your introduction should paraphrase the topic of the essay and try to use different vocabulary/synonyms for the words in the topic, wherever possible.
• Then, give a brief idea about what could be expected in the essay, i.e. the advantages and the disadvantages of the concerned topic.
• Finally, state which side you think weighs the most (when asked for an opinion.)

Body Paragraphs for Advantages And Disadvantages Essay IELTS

Although there is no strict rule about the number of paragraphs forIELTS essays, it is better to limit the number to two. It will not only help you to follow the word count but also keep your essay concise.

Body Paragraph 1 

• It should state the advantage/s of the topic.
• This should be backed by practical points, and the examples would be even better.
• Day-to-day incidents and instances can be brought to notice.

Body Paragraph 2 

• It should state the disadvantage/s of the topic.
• This as well should be supported by valid points, and the daily incidents and examples can be highlighted to back your points.

How To Write An Essay Conclusion?

You should conclude the topic by providing a summary of the points put forth in the entire essay and how the advantages or disadvantages of the topic outweigh the other (if applicable).

• Make sure to end the essay with a well rounded conclusion.
• Link your ideas discussed in the essay to ensure cohesion and coherence.
• The question/s along with the essay statement should be answered.

To help you to understand this type of essay better, given below are some essential essay vocabulary you must know as well as a sample essay with a detailed outline. We’ve provided you with ample IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay topics to help you hone your essay writing skills.

IELTS Essay Vocabulary

A strong command of  vocabulary  is crucial for writing an effective advantages disadvantages essay in IELTS Writing Task 2.

Your proficiency in English language vocabulary will be evident in how expertly you can select the most suitable expressions to convey precise meanings. Diversifying your vocabulary will enable you to incorporate a greater variety of words in your essays. However, it is important to note that overusing uncommon words and phrases can reduce the relevance of your answer.

Wondering the Trick to Score a Band 8 in Writing Task 2?  Know the Secret!

Tips for Mastering Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Writing an essay on IELTS advantage disadvantage essay topics needs careful preparation and planning. Here are some tips that you can use to write a high quality essay:

• Understand the Question:  Make sure you understand the question and what is expected of you before you begin writing. Decide which advantages and disadvantages you need to talk about and if you need to share your opinion.
• Generate Ideas:  Spend a few minutes identifying the benefits and drawbacks of the selected subject. List the main ideas and instances you’ll utilize to support your claims.
• Structure Your Essay:  Write your essay with a logical and obvious structure. Begin with an introduction that briefly summarizes your key points and states the subject. After that, give each benefit and drawback a paragraph of its own, and then wrap up by summarizing your points in the conclusion.
• Use Linking Words:  To connect your thoughts and create a smooth writing flow, use a range of linking words and phrases, like “furthermore,” “however,” “on the other hand,” and “in conclusion.”
• Support Your Points:  Give particular instances, figures, or anecdotes to back up each benefit and drawback you discuss. This will improve the persuasiveness of your arguments and raise your score.
• Plan your Time Effectively:  During the exam, manage your time well. Plan your essay for a few minutes, then concentrate on creating paragraphs that are precise and to the point. At the conclusion, give yourself some time to review and make any required changes.
• Practice is the Key to Success:  It is the ultimate truth. The more you practice, the more you will become efficient in planning, organizing and structuring your advantages disadvantages essay for IELTS Writing Task 2. So, take up more  writing practice tests  and make the best use of them.

Ensure you’re using the right structure for IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays!

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Advantages and Disadvantages IELTS Essay Questions and Sample Answers

Given below are some sample questions for the advantages and disadvantages type of essay and band 9 methodologies of answering them.

Sample Question 1

Sample answer.

Foreign education has become one of the most sought-after ventures in this day and age. A majority of students plan on pursuing higher education in a foreign nation, especially when it comes to a master’s degree. One of the reasons why studying abroad has become such a popular phenomenon is the relaxation of travel laws and procedures across the world. However, there are pros and cons to studying abroad and the following paragraphs will explore the topic and elaborate on why the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

One of the primary reasons for studying abroad is the presence of a more refined and sophisticated education system in several first-world countries. It is common for students from underdeveloped or developing countries like Brazil, China, India, Argentina and other countries to look for better opportunities than the ones available in their native country in terms of academics. Also, residing in a foreign country helps individuals to gain international exposure and also helps them develop social and interpersonal skills, which are extremely important for being eligible for lucrative job opportunities.

Nevertheless, there are numerous drawbacks to travelling abroad for education. First of all, from the beginning of applying to a foreign university to staying in the host country for the entire duration of your degree, it is an exorbitant affair. Such a costly endeavour is often unaffordable for the household of many people. That being said, becoming accustomed to the norms and conventions of an unfamiliar country can be a tough ordeal for many due to differences in culture and social traditions.

Finally, I would like to conclude by saying that foreign education can be a blessing if it is financially feasible for aspiring students. That being said, the benefits of studying abroad surpass the drawbacks for the same.

Check Out –  How to Plan an IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay (Best Strategy)

Sample Question 2

Globalization has been one of the most significant phenomena in the last few decades, and it has changed several aspects of human society both economically and socially. There has been remarkable progress in terms of economic and financial development for developing countries due to the expansion of global organizations. However, there are several drawbacks to this rapid progress that need to be addressed. Evidently, globalization has more advantages than disadvantages and the following paragraphs will elaborate on the topic and justify these views.

First of all, the most advantageous aspect of globalization is the advent of numerous international companies and franchises in developing countries. Ever since global brands and corporations have expanded their operations in countries such as India, China, Sri Lanka and many more, there has been a notable increase in employment in these countries. Additionally, due to the remarkable rise in the number of imports and exports, people from third world countries now have access to a vast catalogue of products and services that were previously unattainable.

That being said, there are drawbacks to globalization that create concerning issues for a sizable portion of the global population. One of the most disturbing consequences faced is the exploitation of labour. Many corporations are known to outsource their operations to developing countries due to cheap labour costs. This enables them to accomplish their manufacturing operations without having to provide proper remuneration. Also, due to the use of inexpensive labour, the quality of products is diminished, and customers receive inferior products.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that the effects of globalization are not entirely positive or negative. Nonetheless, the benefits brought by this occupation outweigh the drawbacks.

Practice Advantages Disadvantages Essays IELTS with IELTSMaterial

There is no doubt that you are preparing for the IELTS Writing Task 2. So, we would recommend you to take up advantage and disadvantage essay topics regularly. The more you practice, the better you will become at solving the IELTS Writing test and answers within the dedicated timeframe.

Check out our  well-reviewed IELTS Writing study guide , which includes self-explanatory lessons and sample answers. If you need more guidance, don’t hesitate to  contact our IELTS specialists . Make the necessary preparations to improve your score on the IELTS Speaking test and get a Band 8+.

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• Useful Structures to Help You Get Band 7.5+ in IELTS Writing
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an advantage/disadvantage essay? How do you identify that the essay falls under this category?

Is it mandatory to put advantages and disadvantages separately in two paragraphs or can I club them?

In case of questions where advantages outweigh disadvantages, I might have to write disadvantages first. Will it affect my score?

Do I have to write more than one point for advantages and disadvantages essays for IELTS Writing?

When can I note down the voc

What will happen if I write the exact question statement of the advantages disadvantages essay topic?

What is the importance of the topic sentence of an advantages disadvantages essay?

Is it mandatory to follow the word limit given with the IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay?

What can I do if my IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay is less than 250 words?

Is there any upper limit for word count for IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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Kasturika Samanta

Kasturika is a professional Content Writer with over three years of experience as an English language teacher. Her understanding of English language requirements, as set by foreign universities, is enriched by her interactions with students and educators. Her work is a fusion of extensive knowledge of SEO practices and up-to-date guidelines. This enables her to produce content that not only informs but also engages IELTS aspirants. Her passion for exploring new horizons has driven her to achieve new heights in her learning journey.

Explore other Advantage Disadvantage Essays

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

Janice Thompson

Post your Comments

10 comments.

Ashlin Devi

Posted on Oct 5, 2023

Nowdays, technologies are in high demand. People are possessed with their own computers and cell phones, so it is quite easy for them to do their job at home. Even though it is acknowledged with several points that working from home is quite easier, the essay will argue that the drawbacks of working from home will outweigh its strength. The main disadvantages are ineffective communication and the relationship amongst people becoming distant. First of all, people need internet to communicate. The internet connectivity is very poor at times, especially in the remote areas. Furthermore, during virtual meetings, discussion gets difficult due to connection issues where meeting is not worthwhile since no voice or no video. Moreover, working from home gives distance amongst people where you will not be able to have interact with colleague. Face-to-face discussion is very important where you get to work more effectively and efficiently. On the other hand, working from home is indeed benefit. People do not have to travel to reach work. The time which are spend on travelling, can be utilized on other activities such as house cores, leisure activities or even can work extra hours to meet the given deadline. Furthermore, people get flexibility in working hours, since there are no superior workers supervising employee. To conclude, there are some strengths on working from home but drawbacks overweigh strengths since working from home is not as easy task as people think since ineffective communication and people interaction is very important.

ria mahajan

Posted on Oct 6, 2023

Overall Band 5.5 Main ideas are relevant, but some are insufficiently developed and lack clarity, while some supporting arguments and evidences are missing for the question.Simple vocabulary is used accurately but the range does not permit much variation in expression.A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used but flexibility is limited. For detailed analysis,you can avail a Free trial class Find the link below: https://ieltsmaterial.com/signup-1/ or you may reach out to us: +91 8929053019

Posted on May 15, 2023

More students prefer foreign colleges and universities. Although studying abroad is costly, a concerning drawback, the global exposure a student gets is the primary benefit that outweighs any disadvantage. On the one hand, pursuing education abroad is quite expensive, which is the primary concern. The tuition fee in the universities of developed countries is relatively high, and it is challenging for a student from an average financial background to afford it. Furthermore, people need to find part-time jobs to handle their daily expenditures. For example, a study by the University of Dubai revealed a drop of 25% in the enrolment of international students in the year 2023 compared to 2022 among the Gulf nations due to an increase in college fees. However, many universities provide scholarships to merit students, and youth can get global exposure which is of considerable significance. The primary benefit of choosing foreign universities is that the pupils get excellent global exposure. In many developed nations, the education system is quite advanced and leans towards practical knowledge than textbook learning. Moreover, people can build a strong network with locals which helps them in their professional careers. For instance, one of my friends, Ravi, who runs a garment business, is able to expand his work abroad due to the exposure he got while pursuing his master’s in abroad and the network he built during his education period. This is why youth prefer foreign universities. In conclusion, although studying abroad is quite expensive, the undisputed benefit of getting global exposure surpasses any hindrance.

Posted on Dec 3, 2022

“Nowadays online shopping becomes more popular than in-store shopping. Is it a positive or a negative development? Give your reasons and examples.” Isn’t this an opinion question though you have categorized it under advantages and disadvantages? I believe we have to describe only one aspect in our body paragraphs rather than describing both positive and negative aspects?

Posted on May 29, 2022

Nowadays, studying abroad is a new trend among students. Undoubtedly, there are positive and negative aspects of studying in a foreign country. However, the benefits of attending colleges and universities in a foreign country outweigh the drawbacks. The next couple of paragraphs will explain the topic and justify these viewpoints.

To begin with, studying abroad has several advantages for students. For instance, a student who is studying in a foreign country will probably improve language skills better than others. Learning a foreign language is extremely significant in a global environment. Moreover, living outside of a home country will enhance students’ worldview thanks to the culture of the host country. Therefore, it can be said that studying abroad paws the way for great career options.

However, there are undesired sides to education in a foreign state. One of them is education expenditure. Studying abroad might be expensive. Thus, it might lead to a huge economic burden for both student and his family. When a student moves to another country for education, he must face several challenges caused by living alone. For instance, some students might have some psychological problems during the first couple of weeks following their move. It can be claimed that being homesick is a common problem among young students.

In conclusion, having a graduate degree from a foreign country has both negative and positive sides. Although there are significant advantages, the benefits of studying abroad surpass the drawbacks for the same.

Posted on May 30, 2022

Band Score – 6

Concentrate on the correct usage of quantifiers and subject-verb agreement.

In some places words are used incorrectly, pay attention to them.

Use C2 level of words.

Purnima Koli

Posted on Oct 25, 2021

Parents tend to give the children better resources as compared to their own childhood. This way they also feel compensated in the process while bringing up their own child. While having a huge collection of toys to play with is not all that bad, at the same time can lead to some issues.

Firstly, having a diversity in the range of toys have multiple benefits. The child can learn how to manage or organize better. Varied exposure to different themes of toys makes one more aware.

Secondly, sharing can also develop social skills among the child’s friend circle. To get hands-on-experience with toys such as Rubix’s cube, puzzles hone mental capacity of the kid. Similarly, educational and infotainment toys help shape likes and dislikes, opinions, communication skills. Thus, caters to holistic development which is often a cause of worry for parents.

On the other hand, if the child is given more and more, this may result in losing the value of individual toy. Not only is this expenditure wasteful but also teaching consumerist tendencies to the child. Perhaps unconsciously the child stops valuing his toys and takes them for granted in desire for more.

To have enough needs to be inculcated rather than frivolous costs being incurred. The parents need to be also mindful of teaching holistic habits like outdoor games, reading, painting apart from playing with toys for all round development.

Having many toys is also burdensome when it comes to maintenance. If that could be sorted then it’s much easier to assemble and play as per the child’s convenience. Gifting once in a while is a good option to keep the spirits of the child happy.

Posted on Nov 13, 2021

If you would have presented this same as a 4 paragraph structure and added the conclusion you would have score 7 easily.

Overall band: 5

Coherence: It is better to follow a 4 paragraph structure so that it is easy for the examiner to mark you for coherence. Conclusion is missing in your essay. Conclusion is where you sum up and restate points.

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