Larger proportions of people live and work in other countries today than at any time in the past. It is probable that in the future there will be no borders and people will be able to move freely between countries.
To what extent do you agree with this opinion?
There is no doubt that improved transportation links and ease of movement between countries has meant that more people are choosing to immigrate or work abroad. Workers often opt for a life in another country because the working and living conditions are better there. This shift has been eased by agreements between trading partners and companies who wish to hire specialized staff. The internet is another example of how borders have been erased and where people can perform any type of activity in cyber space.
I do not believe that borders will be erased in the future, even though at present they are blurred. Each country has its own rules and regulations governing the movement of people. Borders have been erected to establish the outline of a country and its people. Governments need to control the flow of moment between countries as this affects the labour market, demand and supply and the economic growth of a country.
On the contrary, I believe the government will make it more difficult for people to cross borders. Many countries have imposed quotas on the number of foreign workers allowed into the country. They also stamp their passport with future departure dates depending on when their contracts are due to end. A sudden massive movement of people will drain a country’s resources and some areas cannot financially support a large amount of people.
To sum up, although restrictions have been lifted for living and working in other countries today, and this trend offers many advantages to countries with labour shortages as well as to workers, for practical reasons and population control I believe that borders will continue to exist in the future.