The Intelligence from The Economist Barriers to entry: covid-19 and migration
Jul 30, 2020
In this discussion, Tim Judah, The Economist's Balkans correspondent, unpacks the evolution of organized crime in the Balkans. He highlights how COVID-19 has worsened migration issues, allowing leaders to tighten borders. Judah reveals that today's gangsters are tech-savvy, operating through global networks rather than traditional syndicates. The conversation also touches on the economic contributions of migrants and critiques the misleading nationalism surrounding migration policies, contrasting these themes with exciting developments in space exploration.
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Migrant Workers' Struggle
- Nomsa Tshuma, a Zimbabwean domestic worker in Johannesburg, lost her income during lockdown.
- Without government support, many migrants like her rely on charities for survival.
Flawed Arguments Against Migration
- Fears of disease and job competition fuel anti-migrant sentiment.
- These arguments are emotionally charged but economically flawed.
Migrants' Contributions
- Migrants often fill essential roles, especially in healthcare and other key sectors.
- They also contribute significantly to innovation, exemplified by migrant researchers in the US and the Oxford vaccine group.