2.1 Migration as a component of population change Flashcards
What are some key definitions for migration?
Migration: movement of people across a specified boundary - national or international - to a new permanent change of residence
Circulatory movements: movements with a time scale of less than a year - for instance tourism or migration for workers
International migration: People move from one place to another within the country. Split into out and in migration - involved rural-urban/urban-rural.
Rural-urban: results in urbanisation and industrialisation. Step migration may be a part of this, which is when people migrate in steps, and urban areas may be the final stage.
Intra-urban migration: People move within an urban area e.g. from centre to outer parts.
Net migration: balance between moving in/output of the area/country.
The source area is the origin area of migrants. Distance decay theory states that as the distance grows from thee source, the number of migrants fall. A migrant stream is when people come from the same source area to a destination.
Step migration: before moving into cities, move into smaller areas to assimilate to the area
Voluntary migration is through free will - usually economic migration. Forced migration occurs when there is no choice but to move e.g. during war or disaster. People are called refugees when they reach leave, asylum seekers when they reach the area.
What are constraints to migration?
Constraints to migration refer to factors which defer someone from migrating even if the push/pull factors suggest they should. They are categorised into barriers and obstacles. Barriers are difficulties migrants may face on their journey as well as upon arrival. Obstacles are things that may get in their way, such as borders, VISAs, citizenship and harsh climates.
What are the main barriers?
The main barrier is the cost of movement, split into the closing cost (losing assets, home, family, possessions), journey cost (freight, cost, distance, type) and opening cost - cost of buying assets at the new place, housing, possessions at the area of destination.
The journey: distance is often the greatest barrier as takes the most time and highest cost. The further from the origin further from their homes which makes harder to return. Long journeys in dangerous conditions using multiple modes of transports have risks with them such as bandits, food, deserts, oceans, mountains, and rainforests
What are the main obstacles?
Immigration laws are also a barrier - most LICs only allow skilled workers unless in desperate need, such as an ageing population. The general pattern that before WW1 there was no migration laws however between 1914 and 45 this became racially motivated however after 1945 laws were reduced as there were labour shortages, such as the Windrush. In the 70s rising unemployment led to tightening of policy.
What are the patterns of migration?
The processes are complex and the patterns change over time. Key trends are seen, however including flow of Europeans to NA and colonies, African slaves to Americas, Europeans west wards, East Asia into SE Asia/NA, Mexicans/Caribbean’s/SA to NA.
What is lee’s push/pull theory?
Migrants consider the push/pull factors as well as the constraints to migration - simple but successful theory
What is the Todaro Model?
In the short term initial earnings made by the migrants will be lower than their home earnings however in the long term their incomes and children’s incomes will be much higher once they have assimilated to certain areas.
It is argued that the decision to migrate is an individual decision based on expected income rather than differences in income at the time of migration - willing to endure difficulties in the short term for benefits in the long term
What other factors may explain migration patterns?
Gender based - men tend to migrate for work and send remittances back to families to improve living standards back home and give women more empowerment. If barriers are low enough the entire family moves, or if it is forced migration. This may also depend on the supply of work in the area, as if it is heavily industry/construction based it will likely be made up of men - and areas which supply more service jobs may see more women.
Age: traditionally young people migrate in search of better economic conditions as they have ambitions, few family ties and lower incomes. Old people also migrate when they retire to quieter, peripheral areas.
What are push factors?
Wars, racial discrimination, unemployment, forced labour, natural disaster, starvation, poverty, poor farmland, lack of services, persecution, overpopulation, low wages, boring jobs, not enough jobs.
Mechanisation has pushed workers out of agriculture.
Economic development also improves services, so population growth occurs encouraging moving to cities.
What are pull factors?
Climate, healthcare and education, prospects, friend and family, entertainment, housing, employment, wages, environment, better lifestyle.
Cumulative causation occurs at higher wages stimulate demand developing the area, attracting more wages and demand.
