Post by Sofi Gaitan Wolfe. Colgate Class of 2024.

Source: The Economist Newspaper. (2020, March 26). “Migration is helping Africa in many ways.” The Economist.

As an Economist in the article states, many Africans find it beneficial to move to the West because in Europe, income is a major pull factor (wages are three times higher in the destination country). However, not everyone has the privilege of moving, since most cannot afford to pay migration costs, and most are intermediately selected so not all immigrants have sufficient skill to make it in European countries. Furthermore, with EU enforcement of borders, immigrants increasingly demand smugglers as the supply of smugglers decreases meaning an increase in price. The European labor force needs immigrants to sustain their economies, yet they opt to enforce their borders in attempts to keep those same immigrants that will support the aging population out. 

One concern about immigration into Europe is that this migration is draining Africa of its educated youth, however, it seems like there is a circular “brain drain, brain gain” effect as people migrate and acquire skills and education, they encourage those back home to do the same and then migrate to creating a circular pattern of increased education, skill, and immigrants. Another important aspect of African migration is their assimilation into Europe, and the article specifically touches on the immigrant’s ability to create a cultural melting pot in which a demand for new goods and services from abroad increases and an increase in supply as immigrants already have the skills to create a business surrounding their origin country (restaurants, grocery stores, etc). Their assimilation can be aided by these entrepreneurial initiatives and help them create networks within their ethnic enclaves that can be helpful for future immigrants.