Population Geography Migration What is migration n n

Population Geography Migration

What is migration? n n n A movement Change of home Can be: n n n Temporary Seasonal Daily Permanent Between countries Within a country Migration 2

Types of Population Movement Migration 3

Chain Migration n n Chain migration refers to the mechanism by which foreign nationals immigrate by virtue of family reunification. A migration process which depends on a small number of pioneers, who make the first moves to set up a new home in a new place. They send information back home, and this encourages further migration from the originating area. Migration 4

Circular migration n n Circular migration in global context is used as a triple win discourse promising gains for host countries, home countries and migrants themselves, promising accelerated economic growth, remittances, relative high wages and brain gain, by means of full circles of migration: immigrants should be able to come, go and come back again, without many restrictions and making use of contemporary transnational networks. (Bieckmann and Muskens, 2007). Circular migration in urban context is a form of migration by which migrants move to the city for a few months and then return to the village when they can be most useful there. It is often part of a larger household strategy that seeks to diversify income streams and maximize consumption. Migration 5

Mathematical Migration Models Gravity Model n n n migrants tend to move over short distances Number of migrants decrease as distance increases Called distance decay effect n The volume of migration is inversely proportional to the distance traveled, and directly proportional to the relative sizes of the origin and destination places Migration (level of interaction) Suggests Number of people n (based on Ravenstein’s laws of migration 1885) Distance The distance decay effect 6

Mathematical Migration Models Stouffer’s intervening opportunity model n The movement of people between 2 places is dependent upon the type and number of intervening opportunities between them. Migration 7

Migration Model (Jones & Hornsby) Forced migration barriers Country/area of origin voluntary migration Country/area of destination barriers return migration Migration 8

Forced vs. Voluntary Migration n n Religious: Jews Pilgrim fathers to New England Wars: Muslims & Indus in India & Pakistan; Rwanda Political Persecution: Ugandan Asians Slaves or forced labor: Africans to SE USA Lack of food and Famine: Ethiopians into the Sudan Natural Disasters: floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions (Mount Pinatubo) Overpopulation: Chinese in SE Asia Redevelopment: British inner-city slum clearance, ujamaa in Tanzania Resettlement: Native Americans (USA), Blacks (RSA) Environmental: Chernobyl (Ukraine) Migration n n n n Jobs: Turks into Germany, Mexicans into California Higher salaries: British doctors to USA Tax avoidance: British pop/rock & film stars to USA Opening up of new areas: Israelis into Negev Desert, Brasilia Territorial Expansion: Portuguese into Angola & Mozambique Trade & economic expansion: former British colonies Retirement to warmer climates: Americans to Florida Social amenities & services: better schools, hospitals and entertainment 9

Migration Model (Jones & Hornsby) Forced migration barriers Country/area of origin voluntary migration Country/area of destination barriers return migration Migration 10

Barriers to movement to Voluntary migration n Government restrictions: immigration quotas, work permits, Berlin wall n Lack of money: unable to afford transport to & housing in new areas n Lack of skills & education n Lack of awareness of opportunities n Illness n Threat of family division & heavy family responsibilities Migration to Return n Insufficient money to afford transport n Standard of living lower in original area n Racial, religious or political problems in original area 11

Migration Model (Jones & Hornsby) Forced migration barriers Country/area of origin voluntary migration Country/area of destination barriers return migration Migration 12

Reasons to return n n Racial tension in new area Earned enough money to return To be reunited with family Foreign culture proved unacceptable Causes of initial migration removed (political or religious persecution) Migration 13

Factors influencing migration Attractive reasons Repellent reasons Restraining factors n. Pull n. Push n. Encourage factors n. Favorable conditions n. Attract people n. Lead to spontaneous (voluntary) movement More congenial physical environments n. Industrial & scientific revolution n. The ‘lure of foreign parts’ n. Economic prosperity n factors n. Unfavorable conditions n. Discourage people from remaining n. Lead to forced movement n. Hard push factors people to stay War n. Starvation n. Environmental catastrophes n n. Soft push factors Religious persecution n. Racial discrimination n. Poverty n. Social loneliness n Migration 14

Consequences of Migration These can be subdivided into 3 categories: n n n 1. Demographic Consequences: * Changes in the numbers and distribution of people within a region are changed. * Intermarriages are created, leading to a new group of people. 2. Social Consequences: * Migration brings different people together leading to conflicts. * Migration however also creates understanding between different groups of people. * Rural-Urban migration creates ghettoes (favelas, squatter camps, shanty towns) in cities. 3. Economic Consequences: * This depends on the "quality" of the migrants and the economic needs of the origin and destination. Quality refers to skills, age, educational attainment, health etc. * In overpopulated areas, emigration is beneficial because it reduces the pressure on the land. * In underpopulated areas, emigration may slow down development. Migration 15

Migrant Workers advantages & disadvantages to ‘losing’ countries Advantages Disadvantages Reduces pressure on jobs and resources (food) ØLoses people of child-bearing age causing decline in BR Ø Loses people in working age group ØLoses people most likely to have some education and skills ØMainly males leave causing a division in families ØLeft with an elderly population and so a high DR Ø Migration 16

Migrant Workers advantages & disadvantages to ‘receiving’ (host) countries Advantages Disadvantages ØOvercomes ØPressure labor shortage ØPrepared to do dirty unskilled jobs ØPrepared to work long hours for low salaries ØCultural advantages and links ØSome highly skilled migrants ØIn ELDC’s these migrants can increase the number of skilled workers on jobs but most likely first to be unemployed in a recession ØLow-quality, overcrowded housing lacking basic amenities ØEthnic groups tend not to integrate ØRacial tension ØLimited skilled/educated group ØLack of opportunities to practice their own religion, culture, etc. ØLanguage difficulties ØOften less healthy Migration 17