The High Rates Of Immigration And The Effects It Has On The Uk Economy



Table of Contents

Chapter One: Introduction3

Overview3

Historical Background: Causes of Immigration5

Chapter Two: Literature Review11

Economic Theory11

Olson's Sclerosis11

“The work that we don't want to do”12

The 'Lewis Model' of the Dual Sector Economy14

Hypotheses16

Facilitation of the growth of industry16

Cushioning the decline of industry17

Adaption to a service-based economy18

Unemployment19

Chapter three: Methodology21

Chapter Four: Discussion25

Results25

Measurement of Population and Immigration25

Industry and Services28

Unemployment and Commuting46

Ethnicity and Unemployment53

Incomes59

Interpretation of Results61

Prediction 161

Prediction 263

Prediction 366

Prediction 467

Prediction 568

Chapter Five: Conclusion69

References72

Chapter One: Introduction

Overview

This is an investigation into the economic effects of immigration upon an East Anglian market town in the second half of the twentieth century, incorporating a summary of the relevant literature on the subject. (Jordan 1999) The focus is on changes in the occupational and industrial structure of the town in the context of local, regional and national patterns of employment. I discuss the history of migration to Bedford in the context of economic migration to the United Kingdom, proceeding to an analysis of the relevant theories that provide a structure for data interpretation of the question as to why Bedford's economy may have developed differently from that of the rest of the country. I expound my hypothesis concerning the possible benefits of immigration for Bedford's manufacturing sector, and my method, in which predictions of individual indicators are made for proving my hypothesis. In the fifth chapter my findings are illustrated in textual and graphical form, (Holmes 1988) and in the sixth chapter these results are analysed closely. Finally, the deeper significance of my analysis in its wider context is explained in the conclusion.

Figure 1 picture source: Bedford Development Agency

During a five minute walk from the main railway station on Ashburnham Road to the centrally located bus station in Bedford the cosmopolitan nature of the town is manifest. (Hillier 1981) Next to the railway station is a Dom Polski. Taking the route down Woburn Road one sees an Italian Roman Catholic church, vibrant with weddings at weekends. Turning right onto Alexandra Road, one passes first a West Indian cultural centre, then the Afro­Caribbean Miracle Church of God, and on the left another Club Polski. On Alexandra Place one sees an Italian Club and the Bangladeshi Mosque. In front of the Bus Station is Priory Lower School, where young children of all ethnic backgrounds play and fight in the playground. Taking the alternative route from Ashburnham Road is the very busy Midland Road, (Haigh 1971) colourful with ethnic businesses and fashion shops. Here one finds The West Indian Mount Zion Church, Italian, Turkish, Chinese, Indian, halal restaurants and takeaways, Italian and Afro­Caribbean hairdressers, Indian shops and supermarkets. Over the railway bridge from Midland Road is the Queens Park district dominated by ethnic minorities, teeming with jewellery and fashion businesses, travel agents, money exchangers and halal groceries. The majority of properties are owned by Asians or rented to first generation Asian and Eastern European immigrants by housing associations. (Goodhart 2004 )

Historical Background: Causes of Immigration

Large scale immigration to Bedford began during the Second World ...