Study Notes on Population and Migration Geography: Causes of Migration
Unit 2: Population and Migration Geography
Lesson 12: Causes of Migration
Introduction to E.G. Ravenstein
E.G. Ravenstein was a geographer noted for his contributions to the theory of human migration.
His migration theory was developed in the 1880s and includes 11 laws which continue to form the foundation of modern migration theory.
These laws can be organized into three main categories:
Reasons Why Migrants Move: categorized into push and pull factors.
Distances Migrants Typically Move: includes distance decay, the gravity model, and Lee’s model of migration.
Characteristics of Migrants: description of the demographics and traits of individuals who migrate.
Push Factors of Migration
Economic Push Factors
Economic factors are the most common reasons for migration. Some key economic push factors include:
Lack of work or educational opportunities.
Low wages and unsafe working conditions.
Economic instability characterized by high debt or inflation rates.
High or unjust taxation levels.
Class or ethnic conflicts.
Poor quality of public services (medical, etc.).
High crime rates.
Discrimination and persecution.
Absence of social connections and community.
Political Push Factors
Political factors influencing migration include:
Government instability and high levels of corruption.
War and armed conflict.
Lack of rights and poor infrastructure.
Competing ideologies that may threaten individual freedoms.
Environmental Push Factors
Environmental scenarios lead to migration through:
Extreme climates and high pollution levels.
Natural disasters impacting livability.
Lack of natural resources.
Insufficient green spaces such as parks.
Pull Factors of Migration
Economic Pull Factors
The economic reasons that attract migrants include:
More work or educational opportunities.
Higher wages and better working conditions.
Economic stability and currency strength.
Favorable taxation policies.
Social Pull Factors
Social reasons for migration focus on:
The presence of friends and family in a new location.
An enhanced quality of public services (education, etc.).
Increased safety and tolerance for diversity (cultural, religious, linguistic).
Family reunification is often a crucial factor, as individuals seek to be closer to loved ones and maintain familial bonds.
Political Pull Factors
Political enticements include:
Government stability and absence of corruption.
Good infrastructure and legal protections for marginalized groups.
Peaceful societal conditions.
Environmental Pull Factors
Favorable environmental conditions that might attract migrants include:
Abundance of natural resources.
Favorable climates and clean water and air.
Plenty of green space including parks and reserves.
Distance Migrants Travel
Models Illustrating Migration Distance
Ravenstein's theory regarding the distance migrants travel can be illustrated through three models:
Distance Decay Model:
Suggests that most migrants only travel short distances.
Internal migration is more common than international migration. Sense of familiarity and or connections. Less trauma when staying in a country
Types of migrations include:
INTERregional Migration: movement from one region to another, such as from north to south.
INTRAregional Migration: movement within a single region, e.g., from Georgia to Florida.
This model reflects why long-distance migrations are less traumatic (familiarity with language, food, customs, etc.).
Lee’s Model:
Proposes that migrants experience intervening opportunities or obstacles that affect their ability to reach desired destinations.
Categories of Obstacles and Opportunities:
Economic:
Obstacle: Costs of migration.
Opportunity: Job availability.
Social:
Obstacle: Cultural barriers (language, customs) or family obligations.
Opportunity: Finding a fitting community, marriage opportunities.
Political:
Obstacle: Immigration laws and border patrols.
Opportunity: Immigrant-friendly locations that support migrants living in their communities.
Environmental:
Obstacle: Physical geographic barriers such as deserts, oceans, and mountains.
Opportunity: Pleasant scenery and site characteristics appealing to migrants.
Gravity Model:
The interaction between two cities or countries is influenced by their size and distance from each other.
Larger cities or countries exert more pull on migrants, particularly those seeking economic opportunities.
As the distance between locations increases, the attractive pull of the larger city diminishes, guiding migrants to closer alternatives.
Example: Cuban migrants are more likely to move to Miami (population approximately 450,000) rather than Fort Lauderdale (population approximately 183,000), due to the greater availability of educational, recreational, and economic opportunities in Miami.
Characteristics of Migrants
Pre-1990s Migration Trends
Prior to the 1990s, migration patterns showed that:
More migrants were from rural areas.
Males had a higher propensity to migrate longer distances, particularly to other countries.
This trend was attributed to more economic opportunities that were historically available to men during the 19th and 20th centuries for the men and they got paid more.
Post-1990s Migration Trends
Since the 1990s, changing demographics in migration reveal that:
Women now constitute the majority of migrants, particularly to the United States because they got more civil rights.
Contributing Factors:
Changes in women's roles in various Latin American countries have led to greater personal freedoms, including job opportunities.
An increase in education opportunities for children has influenced family migration decisions. More families will bring their kid for better education.
Families in Migration
Long-distance international migrants are predominantly young adults seeking work.
Approximately 40% of migrants are within the age range of 25-39 years.
There is an increasing trend of children migrating to the U.S. as more young women also choose to migrate for job opportunities.
Many migrants send remittances back to their home countries, which are defined as:
Money or goods that migrants send back to support their families and communities in their home nations.
Less families that are poor back home often rely on these remittances to improve their living conditions, invest in education, or provide healthcare, ultimately contributing to their local economies.
Remittances can speed up development in the receiving country