2.4 - Russia/Oligarchs

Question 1

What is Accession 8?

Answer 1

A group of 8 countries that joined the EU in 2004

Question 2

Why were the A8 countries grouped?

Answer 2

So that they would be the origin of a new wave of migration to wealthier countries in the EU

Question 3

Why are Poles moving to Slough?

Answer 3

• For jobs - earn 5x the pay you do in Poland

- English is Poles’ second language

Question 4

What is the unemployment rate in Poland?

Answer 4

18.2%, highest in all OECD

Question 5

What are some examples of low-cost carriers Poles travel on?

Answer 5

WizzAir and RyanAir

Question 6

What happened as a result of out-migration in Slough?

Answer 6

funding was short based on 2001 census - £15 million, which led to council tax increases

Question 7

What was there pressure on as a result of 10,000 migrants in Slough?

Answer 7

pressure on health, education, housing - 15 people living in a house

Question 8

What were Slough schools adapted with to cater for Polish children?

Answer 8

adapted with EAL provision - £70m required for funding for 13,000 new children in Slough

Question 9

What is a social benefit of Poles moving to Slough?

Answer 9

• Promotes tolerance of different groups and connects them together
• increased cultural diversity

Question 10

What are economic benefits of Poles moving to Slough?

Answer 10

• Economic boost - Poles have contributed 3x the cost
• skilled and qualified workforce
• children help with ageing population

Question 11

What is the main UK immigration route for migrants?

Answer 11

the 5 tier system to get points to apply to apply for a visa

Question 12

What is tier one?

Answer 12

Highly skilled people

• entrepreneurs, top scientists, business people
• they can stay permanently - potential to earn the most

Question 13

What is tier two?

Answer 13

Skilled with job offer

• qualified
• employers have to sponsor them

Question 14

What is tier three?

Answer 14

Low skilled

• jobs in hospitality, food processing and agriculture
• you can’t do this if you’re outside the EU

Question 15

What is tier four?

Answer 15

Students

- fee paying only, issued visas from place of study

Question 16

What is tier five?

Answer 16

Temporary

• professional sports people / musicians
• can stay and work for a limited period of time

Question 17

What are some benefits for the source country (Poland) after migrants move

Answer 17

• remittances received and these are invested in local businesses, house repairs and medical care
• less unemployment in Poland
• wages rise as fewer workers available
• new job opportunities, particularly for women as large numbers of men migrate
• housing / hospitals / schools less overcrowded so house prices may fall

Question 18

What are some costs for the source country (Poland) after migrants move

Answer 18

• loss of skilled workers - brain drain
• loss of tax revenue so reduced government spending
• loss of population to sustain local services
• loss of culture and community
• families divided so impacts mental health and child care
• young migrants move leaving a falling / ageing population, increasing dependency ratio

Question 19

What is an Oligarch?

Answer 19

• Business owners who acquired commodity-firms in post Soviet Russia
• A Greek term for political and economic power

Question 20

What is Londongrad?

Answer 20

A name for wealthy parts of London where Russian business owners have brought property for their families to get a British education and secure pension base

Question 21

What are Russian (Transnational) elites?

Answer 21

Rich migrants to benefit from UK institutions
e.g total of bonds and loans raised by Russian businesses in London between 2004 and 2013 was over £250 billion, UK banks charge fees of up to 3% of the amount borrowed

Question 22

Does the UK Government want Russian Oligarchs?

Answer 22

• Russian international investments in London is sizeable - £27bn
• It one accounts for 0.5% of total international assets in London
• Russia only accounts for 1% of UK financial services
• fears of Russian mafia

Question 23

What is One Hyde Park?

Answer 23

A major residential and retail complex located in Knightsbridge for top elite workers

Question 24

What are generic reason to stay in London?

Answer 24

• political, cultural and employment attractions of London
• Stock exchanges and HQs of TNCs - which will then tend to attract wealthy stock-brokers and executives
• migrant enclaves
• wide range of employment opportunities
• concentration of many languages spoken - creates a market for further investment and opportunities
• proximity to major universities
• NHS/benefits/education
• free movement guaranteed to EU nationals
• A8

Question 25

What are some characteristics of low-wage EU migrants

Answer 25

• willing to work in dangerous conditions for long hours and earn low wages
• moved after EU enlargement in 2004
• live in cheaper outskirts of London
• recruited and transported over
• send remittances back home
• live in Polish enclaves

Question 26

What are some characteristics of Russian Oligarchs?

Answer 26

• brought Russian commodities industries to generate huge wealth
• living in London means a London lifestyle (restaurants, theatres etc)
• buy significant assets in UK
• buying expensive property in London
• moved after collapse of USSR
• permanent residents in London

Question 27

What are some previous open doors acts?

Answer 27

• Act of Parliament 1948 - mainly from UK colonies - Caribbean, Indian Empire
• 1970s, attitudes changed - control was introduced, Brixton riots, discrimination with Stephen Lawrence

Unskilled labourers to rebuild post-War Britain

Question 28

What are some benefits of migration to the host country (UK)?

Answer 28

• more taxpaying workers
• low skilled workers to do jobs people don’t want to do
• migrants contribute to economy

Question 29

What are some costs of migration to the host country (UK)?

Answer 29

• pressure on NHS, housing, schools etc
• more costs on community policing
• tension between communities