Block 5 (Causes, Consequences + Management Of Rural-Urban Migration In Developing Countries) Flashcards
Define rural-urban migration
Movement from a rural area to an urban area
What is a high rate of rural-urban migration causing?
Urbanisation (increase in proportion of people living in large towns/cities)
What is the rate of rural-city migration since 2010?
Approx 3 mill people per week
In what type of countries is there the most rural-urban migration?
Developing countries
What is the average annual growth rate of cities in developing countries?
3%
What are the two overarching reasons for rural-urban migration in developing countries?
1) Push factors in rural areas
2) Pull factors in urban areas
List the 8 main push factors in rural areas causing rural-urban migration
Poverty-based push factors… - Mechanisation of agriculture - MNCs - Land degradation - Natural disasters Other push factors… - War/conflict - New tech - Transport improvements - Healthcare
How does mechanisation of agriculture act as a push factor from rural areas? Give an example
Reduces need for labourers -> less employees -> more poverty
E.g. 60% sub-Saharan Africa rely on agriculture for an income, this will decrease
How do MNCs act as a push factor from rural areas? Give an example
- Increase rates of mechanisation (increasing poverty from unemployment)
- Land grab for cash cropping (displacing people + reducing land for locals to make a livelihood)
- Jobs created by MNCs can be low pay + lack security
- MNCs may develop infrastructure such as roads, facilitating migration
E.g. Monsanto (agricultural company in Kenya) renowned for clashing with local farmers
How does land degradation act as a push factor from rural areas? Give an example
Desertification + sub-division of land lowers yields, increasing poverty
E.g. Over 3 billion hectares land affected by desertification per year
How do natural disasters act as a push factor from rural areas?
Drought + similar natural disasters have a huge impact on the poor in developing farming communities, increasing poverty + triggering migration
How does war/conflict act as a push factor from rural areas? Give an example
People often feel less protected from violence in quiet, rural areas - triggering migration to ‘safer’ cities
E.g. Boko Haram in Nigeria target rural areas
How does new tech act as a push factor from rural areas?
People realise the lack of opportunities due to less tech in their rural home, pushing them to migrate to an urban area
How do transport improvements act as a push factor from rural areas? Give an example
Improving transport connectivity removes this intervening factor, making migration out of rural areas easier
E.g. Trans-Amazonian Highway
How does healthcare act as a push factor from rural areas? Give an example
Local diseases can have a huge impact due to poor healthcare services, people migrate away from the lack of provisions in rural areas
Define pull factors
Reasons people are attracted to new locations
Define push factors
Reasons people feel obliged to leave their home location
What is the main push factor from rural areas in developing countries ?
Poverty (caused by many factors)
What are the 3 main pull factors to urban areas?
- Global supply chain
- Export processing zones
- Informal sector
What are the 3 main pull factors to urban areas all centred around?
Employment opportunities
How does the global supply chain act as a pull factor to urban areas?
Creates employment opportunities in developing countries
- MNCs rely on a global supply chain
- Outsourcing + offshoring by MNCs is often to developing countries where cost is lower
- People are attracted to the employment opportunities that consequently open up in urban areas of developing countries
Define global supply chain
Worldwide network MNCs rely on to produce + distribute goods + services
Define offshoring + give an example
MNCs move factories/offices abroad to take advantage of lower costs
E.g. Google have offices worldwide
Define outsourcing + give an example
MNCs contract different companies abroad to produce some of their goods + services for a lower cost
E.g. Apple outsource to Foxconn in Shenzen
Define export processing zone
Industrial zones set up by the gov to attract foreign investment + create employment (e.g. through tax incentives)
How do export processing zones act as a pull factor to urban areas?
Create employment opportunities in developing countries
- Industrial zones are set up in urban areas with specific benefits like tax incentives to attract foreign investment
- Investment into these areas creates new jobs that people migrate for
How many export processing zones are there currently?
Over 4000, making over 70 million jobs
How does the informal sector act as a pull factor to urban areas?
Urban areas may offer informal jobs for migrants
Give an example of rural-urban migrants getting jobs in the informal sector
Dharavi slum, Mumbai
- Huge recycling business
- Employs over 3000 people informally
What are the consequences of rural-urban migration for rural areas?
- Ageing demographic
- Falling economic productivity
What are the consequences of rural-urban migration for urban areas?
- Increased economic productivity
- Rapid growth in cities + mega cities which causes issues…
> Increased traffic congestion
> Increased strain on housing
> Increased strain on infrastructure
> Increased competition for employment
Are the consequences of rural-urban migration on rural areas mainly positive or negative?
Negative
Are the consequences of rural-urban migration on urban areas mainly positive or negative?
Mixed
How does rural-urban migration cause an ageing demographic in rural areas? Give an example
- Young, economically active people (mainly men) most likely to migrate
- Leaves an increasingly elderly, dependant population
E.g. 70% of India’s over 60s live in rural areas
How does rural-urban migration cause falling economic productivity in rural areas? Give an example
- Ageing demographic means fewer people contribute to the economy
- Elderly less able to work in the predominant employment sector of primary agriculture: less economic gain, food security problems
- Loss of the young + educated news there are fewer new innovative ideas that could boost the economy
E.g. China threatened by future lack of food security as 300 million young migrants have moved to industrial cities in the SE
How does rural-urban migration cause increased economic productivity in urban areas?
- Most migrants move to urban areas seeking jobs
- Filling these jobs increases economic output
Define megacity
Urban area with a population of 10 million or more
How much has there been an increase in mega cities globally since 1970?
1970: 3 mega cities
2020: 34 mega cities
How has rural-urban migration caused an rapid growth in cities + mega cities in urban areas?
Mass-migration to urban areas causes them to grow significantly + strains their services and ability to function smoothly
What are the 4 main issues with rapid increase in city size from rural-urban migration?
- Increased traffic congestion
- Increased strain on housing (often causes slum settlements)
- Increased strain on infrastructure
- Increased competition for employment (often causes informal sector growth)
Give an example of a slum that has arisen because of rapid growth in an urban area?
Makoko Slum, Nigeria
- Slum around Lagos Lagoon in Lagos, Nigeria
- Population of slum estimated over 250,000
- Caused by strain on housing in Lagos
What are the two types of strategies that have been implemented to manage rural-urban migration?
- Top down strategies
- Bottom up strategies
Define top-down strategies
Investment by government (top) in large projects to make areas better able to cope
Give an example of a top-down strategy used to manage rural-urban migration
Government-funded construction projects of infrastructure + housing in China’s highly population urban area around Yangtze River Delta to reduce strain
Give an example of a bottom-up strategy used to manage rural-urban migration
Kenya’s M-Pesa Mobile Service
- Enables people to use phones to deposit, send + withdraw money
- Can also be proof of good credit score, which has given women the ability to secure micro loans to start small businesses
- Has massively improved rural economies, so people have less desire to leave rural areas in search of money
- 1/2 of Kenya’s GDP is transferred around the country using this
- Recently funded by Safaricom (part of Vodaphone)
Define bottom-up strategies
People in the local community (bottom) work to improve their own situation
In rural areas, what do bottom-up strategies intend to do?
Prevent out-migration
In urban areas what do bottom-up strategies intend to do?
Reduce the issues that come from in-migration
