Classical Theories of Migration Flashcards
Understanding how populations evolve
through industrialization
A five-stage model predicting
population growth patterns
Describes four-five stages of population
growth, following patterns that connect
birth and death rates with stages of
industrial development.
Demographic
Transition Theory
True or False: Populations grow along a predictable model
True
Stage 1 of DTT
Pre-Industrial Society
High birth & death rates → Slow population growth
Population growth is typically very slow and constrained by the available food supply.
Historical example: U.S. before 1800s
Stage 2 of DTT
Developing Country
Death rates drop rapidly due to: Improved food supply (selective breeding, crop rotation), Sanitation & public health advances
Birth rates remain high → Population surge
Example: Afghanistan today
Stage 3 of DTT
Declining Birth Rates
Birth rates drop due to: Declining Birth Rates
Urbanization & higher wages
Women’s education & social change
Reduced subsistence agriculture
Increase in parental investment in children education
Transition in values
Access to contraception (not the sole factor)
Population growth begins to level off.
Example: Mexico today
Stage 4 of DTT
Low Birth & Death Rates
Birth rates and death rates are both low.
Birth rates fall below replacement level
The large group born during stage two ages → Economic burden on the shrinking population
Lifestyle diseases increase (obesity, low exercise)
Example: Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden
Stage 5 of DTT
A debated stage
Some theorists propose:
Below-replacement fertility → Population decline
Above-replacement fertility → Population growth
UN categorizes fertility rates:
High-fertility (Sub-Saharan Africa) → Growth triples
Intermediate-fertility (U.S., India, Mexico) → 26% increase
Low –fertility (China, Europe, Australia) → 20% decline
Summary of stages of DTT
- Pre-Industrial Society (high B and D)
- Developing Country (high B and low D)
- Declining Birth Rates (declining B and low D)
- Low Birth & Death Rates (low b and d)
- A debated stage
First formulated in 1885 by E.G.
Ravenstein
A set of generalizations
Based on birthplace data from
19th-century Britain
Many laws remain relevant today
Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration
Three Basic Factors of Migration according to Ravenstein’s Law of Migration
Reasons (Motives)
Distance
Migrant Characteristics
RDM
Migration occurs due to economic, social,
political, or environmental factors.
Reasons (Motives)
Most migrants travel short distances; long-distance migration is less common.
Distance
Migration varies by gender, age, and
cultural background.
Migrant Characteristics
Ravenstein’s 11 Law of Migration
- Most migrants travel short distances, traveling in step migration, achieving long distance goals in small steps.
- Migrants who are traveling a long way tend to move to larger cities.
- People in rural areas are more likely to migrate than urban residents.
- Families are less likely to migrate across national borders.
- Every migration stream creates a counterstream.
- Females are more migratory than males, but males are more migratory over long distances.
- Larger areas grow more by migration.
- Migration increases economic development.
- Migration is mostly due to economic causes.
- Migration occurs from agricultural areas to urban areas.
- Migration increases as technology and transportation improve.
Migration follows patterns influenced by
economy & society.
✅ Short-distance migration is more common
than long-distance.
✅ Economic opportunities drive most
migration.
✅ Migration trends evolve with development & modernization.
True key takeaway
Proposed by Everett Lee in 1966.
A comprehensive theory explaining
the spatial mobility of populations.
Identifies factors influencing
migration and the decision-making
process.
Push-Pull Theory of Migration
Positive factors that encourage
people to stay.
Negative factors (push factors) that
encourage people to leave.
- Factors at the Place of Origin
Positive factors (pull factors) that attract
migrants.
Negative factors that deter migration.
- Factors at the Place of Destination
4 Barriers that affect migration
- Intervening Obstacles
Distance
- Costs
- Policies
- Socio-cultural challenges.
DCPSc
Individuals perceive push and pull
factors differently based on?
Personal Factors:
Awareness
Intelligence
Social connections
Cultural background
AIScCb
4 Key Factors Influencing Migration
- Factors at the Place of Origin
- Factors at the Place of Destination
- Intervening Obstacles
- Personal Factors
ODObsPF
People have better knowledge of their place of origin compared
to the place of destination.
True (Lee’s Theory)
Migration is influenced by personal perceptions, which may not
always be accurate.
True (Lee’s Theory)
Migration decision is not entirely rational and can be influenced by family, societal expectations, and life stages.
True (Lee’s Theory)
family, societal expectations, and life stages.
Hypotheses on Migration Streams
and Counter-Streams (6)
- Migration occurs within well-defined streams.
- Counter-streams develop in response to migration flows.
- Migration is more efficient when negative factors at the origin
are strong.
Well Defined MFlow NFactors
- Migration efficiency is lower when the origin and destination are similar.
- Greater intervening obstacles increase migration stream efficiency.
- Migration stream efficiency fluctuates with economic conditions.
Low O&D High IO Fluctuate EC
Hypotheses on Migrant Characteristics (7)
- Migration is selective based on personal characteristics.
- Migrants responding to pull factors at the destination tend to be positively selected.
- Migrants responding to push factors at the origin tend to be negatively selected.
- Migration selection is often bimodal (both high and low-skilled individuals migrate).
- Positive selection increases when obstacles are higher.
- Certain life stages have a greater likelihood of migration.
- Migrants tend to have characteristics between those of their origin and destination populations.
Select PC, Pull Positively Selected, Push Negatively Selected, Bimodal, PS increases Obstacles Higher, LS, ODP
Lee’s Push-Pull Theory provides a
holistic view of migration
decisions.
Highlights economic, social, and
personal influences.
Acknowledges the uncertainty
and selectivity of migration.
Remains relevant in explaining
modern migration trends.
Lee’s Key Takeaways
