Migration

AS level geography

permanent migration

permanent migration

permanent change of residence on an individual/group of people the lasts more than a year

temporary migration

change of residence lasting less than one year

international migration

when an individual or group of people cross an international border for more than one year

internal migration

when people move from one place to another inside a country

net migration

difference between in-movements and out-movements to a region/country

migration stream

the common route that migrants take to get from a source to a destination

distance-decay

as the distance increases between source and destination, the number of migrants decreases

common push factors

• social intolerance

• civil war

• government corruption

• natural disaster/climate conditions

• unemployment/lack of job prospects

• low income

• bad education

• bad healthcare

common pull factors

• job prospects

• high income promise

• higher living standards

• more entertainment

• better education

• better healthcare

• stabler government

• mild climate

chain migration

after a few migrants leave many more follow

relay migration

at different stages in the family life cycle different people migrate to improve financial situation

step migration

rural migrant progressively steps to bigger settlements

constraints on migration

• closing up cost: cost of leaving the source, in HICs; possessions, houses, emotional costs

• opening up cost: cost of purchasing a house,legal fees, essentials to survive in the destination

• journey: risky, costly

• immigration laws: may encourage/discourage migration

• physical border

Todaro model

• migrant’s decision to migrate can be explained with economic costs/benefits

• migrants willing to endure short financial difficulty for better future

Marxist theory

• migration is the only option after alienation of land

• labour migration will occur with transition into capitalism

Ravenstein’s law

1. distance decay

2. migrants travelling long distances move to large urban centres

3. migration occurs in stages (step-migration)

4. people in rural areas more likely to migrate than those in urban areas

causes of rural-urban migration

• poverty

• low wages

• hard jobs

• unemplyment

• poor amenities and services

• farming mechanisatio reduces need for jobs

source impacts of rural-urban migration

• remittances so more money to improve rural areas

• separated families

• deforestation

destination impacts of rural-urban migration

• pressure on housing, water supplies, services

• poor conditions of living

• informal economy created

• more pollution and landfill sites

causes of urban-rural migration

• pollution

• crime

• congestion

• loneliness

• rural areas are cleaner, more social

• better service provision

source impacts of urban-rural migration

• only rich can move out

• taxes reduced

• less momey to tackle social and economic problems

destination impacts of urban-rural migration

• more money brought to area

• more congestion

• public trnasport cut (increased car ownership)

• decline in commuinity life

• house prices increase

• old traditional buildings converted to modern houses

counter urbanisation

migration from urban areas to rural settlements

suburbanisation

migration from inner city to suburban areas

urbanisation

migration from countryside to towns and cities

reurbanisation

migration from suburbs and villages to inner city areas of gentrification and redevelopment

steps of step-migration

1. slightly bigger settlement

2. slightly larger settlement

3. small urban aea to large urban area

intra-urban migration

movement from one urban area to another

refugee

someone allowed to stay in the country fled to after proving persecution risk and asylum claim being approved

asylm seeker

• someone wo has fled their country to the nearest safe one

• has a legal right to stay with protection (sometimes for a specified duration)

• not allowed to work

• must prove risk of persecution and tell authorities

internally displaced person

someone forced to leave their home for the same reasons as an asylum seeker, but remains in the country

positive impacts of migration on source

• remittances are a major imcome source

• emigration eases levels of unemployment

• reduces health/education pressure

• returning migrants bring new skills and ideas

negative impacts of migration of source

• loss of young adult workers

• increased ageing population

• lower agricultural output at labour falls

• returning migrants may question traidtions, causing division

push factors of Poland to the UK

• unemployment rate: 18.2% in 2005, >40% in rural areas

• GDP per head was $12 700

• lack of jobs

pull factors of Poland to the UK

• GDP $30 900

• high salaries

• high living standards

• free movement of labour

• many low cost flights Poland → London

• no language barrier

Impacts of Poland-UK migration on UK

• 80% of migrants were 18-35 → addresses issues of an ageing population

• rise of discrimination

• locals not satisfied with growth of Catjolic chruch

• far ideas (“jobs are taken by the Poles”)

• pollution → cars for the immigrants

Impacts of Poland-UK migration of Poland

• division of society (pro-EU and those who stayed)

• rise of right-wing ideas (EU taking low-skilled and high-skilled workforces)

• pollution because of low-cost flights

Push factors Mexico-USA

• natural disasters

• high poverty rates

• high subsitence farming rates

Pull factors Mexico-USA

• infrastructure

• sending remittances

• better paying jobs

• higher standards of living

• educational opportunities

migration patterns Mexico-USA

• 10.9mil US residents were mexican immigrants as of 2023

• mostly to California and Texas

• from Western-central areas in 20th century

• more recently from south & east of Mexico City

negative impacts of migration from Mexico-USA on Mexico

• rural areas now have a shortage of economically active people

• dependance on remittances slow local initiatives

• high dependancy ratio

• women outnumber men in rural areas

• fathers absent for years

• fewer children → communities die out

positive impacts of migration from Mexico-USA on Mexico

• remittances boosted income source

• remittances boosted economy

negative impacts of migration from Mexico-USA on USA

• illegal immigration costs USA millions of dollars for border control, detention centres, fences, etc.

• immigrants seen as drain on economy

• remittances seen as money lose from US economy

• tension over availability of jobs

• migrant workers keep wages low → affects unskilled Americans

positive impacts of migration from Mexico-USA on USA

• US economy benefits from paying migrant workers low-wages

• immigrants work as janitors, truck drivers, gerdeners, construction labourers, etc.

• Mexican culture has enriched the US → food, language, music, etc.