Indian migrant workers and global city Singapore: What determines the preference for and (relative) cost of a migration destination?

Global city ambitions and associated cosmopolitan aspirations are principally oriented towards attracting highly skilled migrants who are offered the opportunity of permanent residency. In contrast, low-skilled migrants increasingly face issues of segregation and sanitation, being housed in dormitories far from the city centre, often explained as an attempt to ‘decongest’ the city. That these migrants are not considered part of the aspired cosmopolitan gloss that global cities like to associate themselves with is furthermore underscored by their status as permanently temporary with no option to stay-on beyond a maximum number of years. This article challenges the inherent assumption that low-skilled migrants’ choice for a particularly migration destination is only motivated by monetary reasons. It does so by drawing on two distinct research projects: the first among migration agents in Chennai (Tamil Nadu, India), the second among variously skilled migrants from India in Singapore. By doing so, the article explicates that not only the cost of formalities, agency fees and travel contribute to how expensive it is to migrate to a particular destination (e.g. the Gulf, Malaysia or Singapore) but also its brand value, mainly determined by its assumed quality of life outside work. This brand value speaks to both low- and highly skilled workers, although in different ways.

Download Full-text

Assessment of Sustainable Mobility by MCDM Methods in the Science and Technology Parks of Vilnius, Lithuania

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12239947 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (23) ◽

pp. 9947

Author(s):

Simona Zapolskytė ◽

Vaida Vabuolytė ◽

Marija Burinskienė ◽

Jurgita Antuchevičienė

Keyword(s):

Science And Technology ◽

Transport Infrastructure ◽

Theoretical Research ◽

City Centre ◽

Skilled Workers ◽

Sustainable Mobility ◽

Science And Technology Parks ◽

Transport Services ◽

Technology Parks ◽

The City

The development of science and technology parks (STPs) has become a trendy tool for promoting the economy, innovation, and technology for more than 30 years worldwide. However, STPs poses challenges for urban planners seeking a vision of sustainable urban development. These places become an object of attraction for many highly skilled workers who create daily traffic flows. The proper accessibility and provision of transport infrastructure and services become the challenge for the development of such places because the availability of services influences the choice of travel mode and the possible employees’ travel behaviour. The authors of the research aim to assess the level of development of infrastructure and transport services conducive to the sustainable mobility of science and technology park staff in Vilnius city. Changing mobility behaviour into a more sustainable way is of interest to many scientists and practitioners, so the authors think that STP staff can represent a group of educated, working-age stakeholders within the city population, who has an interest in sustainable mobility travel options and can set an example of sustainable travel. Besides, recommendations for the planning and sustainable development from the sustainable urban mobility point of view of science and technology parks and similar institutions are provided. To achieve this goal, the authors use scientific empirical and theoretical research as well as multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. The results show the link between the distance from the developed STP site to the city centre and the more sustainable mobility of workers. Therefore, it is suggested to develop STPs closer to the urban centre as it often does not require large-scale development, nor do they engage in the polluting industry. Moreover, the authors suggest the key criteria that should be considered for STP development.

Download Full-text

High-Skilled Migration

10.1093/oso/9780198815273.003.0001 ◽

2018 ◽

Keyword(s):

International Migration ◽

Immigration Policy ◽

Migrant Workers ◽

State Policies ◽

Skilled Workers ◽

Skilled Migration ◽

The Past ◽

Highly Skilled ◽

Skilled Migrant

Over the past decades an increasing number of countries have developed a growing interest in attracting and retaining skilled and highly skilled migrant workers. This chapter provides an introduction into the nature and dynamics of the global skill market and the role of states and state policies in international migration processes of highly skilled workers. This introduction also outlines the subsequent chapters of this volume which address questions regarding (i) the nature and scope of high-skilled migration and ‘immigration policy packages’ states implement to attract and select high-skilled migrants; (ii) the rationales and determinants of high-skilled migration policies evolving over time and space; (iii) the extent to which policies and other drivers affect high-skilled migration processes in general, and international migration of students, scientists, and health professionals in particular.

Download Full-text

Linking suburban youth in Madrid and Paris. The role of civil society structures in the integration of children from Muslim backgrounds

Urban Studies ◽

10.1177/0042098018801160 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (13) ◽

pp. 2616-2634 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cecilia Eseverri Mayer

Keyword(s):

Civil Society ◽

Young People ◽

Ethnic Diversity ◽

The State ◽

State Funding ◽

City Centre ◽

Ethnic Segregation ◽

The Cost ◽

The City

This comparative study focuses on how civil society structures influence youth from a Muslim background in their upward mobility and local belonging (to the neighbourhood and to the city). Under comparison are one banlieue in Paris and one barrio in Madrid, similar in terms of social precarity and yet different in their degree of ethnic and religious diversity, their connection to the city centre, the state funding they receive and their civic participation. In the case of the neighbourhood of San Cristóbal (Madrid), a lack of state investment has resulted in a diminished capacity for civil society to connect young people to new opportunities. However, their daily contact with the city centre, the ethnic diversity in the neighbourhood and collaborative efforts between secular and religious structures work together to foster a sense of mixed belonging among young Spanish Muslims. In contrast, significant investment by the State in the suburb of Les Bosquets (Paris) since the riots in 2005 have indeed linked young people to new opportunities, but at the cost of an institutionalisation of civil society structures. In Les Bosquets, increased ethnic segregation, geographical isolation, and the estrangement of religious and ‘laic’ (i.e. secular) organisations are all responsible for the new sense of malaise felt by youths, thus severely affecting their sense of belonging.

Download Full-text

How cities can attract highly skilled workers as residents: the impact of city brand benefits

Journal of Product & Brand Management ◽

10.1108/jpbm-10-2017-1605 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (7) ◽

pp. 847-857

Author(s):

Michael Schade ◽

Rico Piehler ◽

Andreas Müller ◽

Christoph Burmann

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Model ◽

Cost Efficiency ◽

Social Life ◽

Skilled Workers ◽

Content Type ◽

City Brand ◽

Highly Skilled ◽

The Impact ◽

German Cities ◽

The City

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of city brand benefits (cost efficiency, job chances, social life, recreation and self–brand connection) on highly skilled, potential residents’ attitudes toward the city brand. Design/methodology/approach A literature analysis and qualitative study inform a conceptual model, which is tested with structural equation modelling using 354 evaluations of the six largest German cities by 294 highly skilled, potential residents, in terms of their perceptions of city brand benefits and attitudes. Findings Social life and self–brand connection positively affect the city brand attitudes of highly skilled, potential residents. In contrast, cost efficiency, job chances and recreation do not affect these attitudes. Research limitations/implications The relevance of city brand benefits might be specific to a country or culture, so further research should test the conceptual model in other settings, including smaller cities. Further studies might compare the relevance of the effects for actual and potential residents. Practical implications Social life emerged as the most important city brand benefit, so cities must ensure they offer and communicate a rich social life. Cities also should identify and communicate congruent characteristics between the city and the self-concepts of relevant target groups. Originality/value This study identifies relevant and irrelevant city brand benefits for highly skilled, potential residents. In addition, it establishes self–brand connection as symbolic benefit that previous research into potential residents has not considered.

Download Full-text

Understanding Workplace Adaptation as an Acculturation Process: A Qualitative Examination of South Korean Highly Skilled Workers in Japan

International Journal of Psychological Studies ◽

10.5539/ijps.v8n4p107 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 107

Author(s):

Geonsil Lee ◽

Joonha Park ◽

Lauren Ban

Keyword(s):

Job Stress ◽

Migrant Workers ◽

Cultural Difference ◽

Initial Step ◽

Well Being ◽

Stress Factors ◽

Skilled Workers ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

South Korean ◽

Highly Skilled

<p>Although study on job stress and coping among Highly Skilled Migrants (HSMs) has been increasing around Anglo European countries, little is known about Asian migrants working in Asian countries. The present study examined stress factors among South Korean HSMs in Japan and explored their coping strategies in relation to acculturation processes. Semi-structured interviews with eight participants found three main domains affecting work adaptation-related stress: acculturation and adjustment, life events, and job stress. Job demand, relationship formation, and company climate were identified as major job stress factors. HSMs tended to perceive job stress factors as being related to a cultural difference or unique characteristics of Japanese organizations. This qualitative study addresses an initial step towards researching Asian migrant workers in Japan society, suggesting importance of incorporating culture-specific issues in acculturation processes with their job adjustment issues. It is necessary for immigration policy makers to encourage reciprocal understandings between migrants and local colleagues for improving mental health and well-being of both groups in organizations.</p>

Download Full-text

Sensitivity analysis by the adjoint chemistry transport model DRAISfor an episode in the Berlin Ozone (BERLIOZ) experiment

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-6-2091-2006 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 6 (8) ◽

pp. 2091-2106 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

K. Nester ◽

H.-J. Panitz

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity Analysis ◽

Data Assimilation ◽

Transport Model ◽

Reaction Rates ◽

City Centre ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Ozone Concentrations ◽

The Individual ◽

The Cost ◽

The City

Abstract. The Berlin Ozone Experiment (BERLIOZ) was carried out in summer 1998. One of its purposes was the evaluation of Chemistry Transport Models (CTM). CTM KAMM/DRAIS was one of the models considered. The data of 20 July were selected for evaluation. On that day, a pronounced ozone plume developed downwind of the city. Evaluation showed that the KAMM/DRAIS model is able to reproduce the meteorological and ozone data observed, except at farther distances (60–80 km) downwind of the city. In that region, the DRAIS model underestimates the measured ozone concentrations by 10–15 ppb, approximately. Therefore, this study was conducted to detect possible reasons for this deviation. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis was carried out to determine the most relevant model parameters. The adjoint DRAIS model was developed for this purpose, because for this study the application of this model is the most effective method of calculating the sensitivities. The least squares of the measured and simulated ozone concentrations between 08:00 UTC and 16:00 UTC at two stations 30 km and 70 km downwind of the city centre were chosen as distance function. The model parameters considered in this study are the complete set of initial and boundary species concentrations, emissions, and reaction rates, respectively. A sensitivity ranking showing the relevance of the individual parameters in the set is determined for each parameter set. In order to find out which modification in the parameter sets most reduces the cost function, simplified 4-D data assimilation was carried out. The result of this data assimilation shows that modifications of the reaction rates provide the best agreement between the measured and the simulated ozone concentrations at both stations. However, the modified reaction rates seem to be unrealistic for the whole simulation period. Therefore, the good agreement should not be overestimated. The agreement is still acceptable when the parameters in the other sets are modified together. The investigation demonstrates that an analysis of this type can help to explain inconsistencies between observations and simulations. But in the case considered here the inconsistencies cannot be explained by an error in only one parameter set.

Download Full-text

Symbiotic Brain Drains

10.23943/princeton/9780691164021.003.0008 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Madeline Y. Hsu

Keyword(s):

International Students ◽

Knowledge Worker ◽

The United States ◽

Immigration Reform ◽

Skilled Workers ◽

Educational Exchange ◽

Exchange Programs ◽

Immigration Laws ◽

Permanent Residency ◽

The Cold War

This chapter analyzes immigration reform and the knowledge worker recruitment aspects of the Hart–Celler Act of 1965 to track the intensifying convergence of educational exchange programs, economic nationalism, and immigration reform. During the Cold War, the State Department expanded cultural diplomacy programs so that the numbers of international students burgeoned, particularly in the fields of science. Although the programs were initially conceived as a way of instilling influence over the future leaders of developing nations, international students, particularly from Taiwan, India, and South Korea, took advantage of minor changes in immigration laws and bureaucratic procedures that allowed students, skilled workers, and technical trainees to gain legal employment and eventually permanent residency and thereby remain in the United States.

Download Full-text