GG Chapter 5: Causes, Consequences and Management of Rural-Urban Migration in Developing Countries

Mechanisation

replacing human workers with machines to improve productivity, began with the industrial revolution, causing migration of people from the countryside to the city to work in factories

Outsourcing

obtaining goods from cheaper external sources rather than local ones

Offshoring

MNC outsourcing operations overseas to reduce costs of business

Fordism

large scale mechanised mass production

China’s New Year Migration

mass movement of people in China during the Lunar New Year, where millions travel from urban areas back to rural hometowns, largest annual migration, 2.98 billion trips, 40 day travel period, North/South divide

CASE STUDY: INDIA

4x as much internal migration as external

over 30% of the population migrates to urban area

poverty in cities is considered better than living in home communities

Push Factor 1: Mechanised agriculture, MNC landgrabs

Aggravates poverty due to lack of jobs and farm relocation

agricultural modernisation decreases need for rural labour

culture changes as foreign products become cheaper than local goods

Pull Factor 1: Employment Opportunities

offshoring MNC factories provide jobs, outsourcing work for foreign companies as part of the global supply (Dongguan, Shenzhen), low wages, high value goods, Bangladesh and Vietnam

Pull Factor 2: Global Shift, Economic Liberalisations, EPZs

Employment shift to Asia, south America and Africa, new employment

Pull Factor 3: EPZs

Export Processing Zone

mainly China, India, Indonesia since 1965

Coastal EPZs in China have fast economic growth, popular offshoring SEZ (special economic zones) for MNCs with low taxes

CASE STUDY: UGANDA

60% Ugandans are farmers

evicted by MNC landgrabs eg. Monsanto for biofuels instead of traditional subsistence farming

difficulties proving tenure, legal cases pending, farmers move to urban areas for survival

CASE STUDY: RIO DE JANEIRO BOTTOM UP APROACH

Rapid population growth from rural-urban migration and natural increase

Severe housing and infrastructure shortages

Segregation of housing by socioeconomic groups

Development of Rocinha favela

Integrate favelas with better infrastructure

Provide more low-cost housing opportunities

Institutional development, cable car system and bike programs

CASE STUDY: BENGALURU TOP DOWN APPRACH

Silicon Valley of India

IT/biotech opportunities

housing pressure and slums

better jobs given to higher castes and outsiders